Children at risk

What is abuse or neglect?

Abuse or neglect occur when someone inflicts harm or fails to prevent harm. Abuse can take place in a family, in an institution or in the community. The abuser is often known to the child, but can also be a stranger.

Why should I become involved?

About two children die every week in this country as a result of abuse or neglect by those who are supposed to be looking after them.

In some cases, if professional agencies had been involved earlier, the child might have been saved.

Adult survivors of child abuse and neglect say how desperate they were for someone to stop their suffering when they were children. Most parents who are struggling to cope with their children do want support, but don't feel able or don't know how to ask for help.

For all these reasons, it is really important that all suspicions of abuse and neglect are reported.

Contacts details

• If you or a child are in immediate danger you should always phone 999.
• If you are concerned that a child is being abused you can phone Social Services Initial Response Team on 020 8891 7969.
• Outside of office hours you can phone the Emergency Out-of-Hours team on 020 8744 2442.
• We also work closely with the local police. They have a specialist team who deal with Child Protection. You can contact them on 020 8247 6331.
• If you do not know whether to report your concerns you can phone the NSPCC where you can speak in confidence. Their helpline number is 0808 800 5000.