South Ayrshire child protection cases continue to rise

THE NUMBER of children on the child protection register in South Ayrshire has seen one of the largest rises in the country.

According to the Scottish Government’s latest Children’s Social Work Statistics Scotland publication, released on last week, South Ayrshire saw 15 names added to the register between 2011 and 2012.

The region’s result was the sixth highest in Scotland, drawing with West Dunbartonshire’s figure, with Glasgow seeing the largest increase at 85.

13 council areas saw a drop in the number of names on the register, and Midlothian achieving the largest decrease with 41 fewer names.

South Ayrshire was also the only Scottish local authority area in which the number of names on the child protection register has increased every year for the past four years.

South Ayrshire Council’s Head of Children’s Services, Hugh Carswell, said: “All our children have a right to feel safe and to be protected and it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect them.

“The figures suggest our on-going work and high-profile campaign to make adults and children in South Ayrshire more aware of the need to keep children safe is having an impact, allowing us to help more children earlier.”