Why Do People Delay Before They Report Child Abuse?

The NSPCC’s review of its Helpline Service “Helping Highlight: a Year in Review” http://bit.ly.Hn6qTh produces some interesting and worrying information. In 2011 nearly 45,000 people contacted the NSPCC, worried about a child. For those watching the Manchester derby tonight, it’s about that many-a ground full.

This is a 29% rise on last year’s figures-good, more people are getting in touch with their concerns. Here’s the worrying bit: 56% of those whose call produced a referral said they’d delayed getting in touch for over a  month-thus leaving the child at risk for a longer period. Here’s the breakdown:

• 12,000 (almost) calls-Neglect
• 8,000 (over) calls-Physical Abuse
• 6,000 (almost) calls Emotional Abuse
• 5000 (over) calls Sexual Abuse

The amount of calls to the NSPCC has, over the past 5  years, doubled. The NSPCC now has a facility to contact them by text message. (  88858 ) they aim to make contact within 3 hours of receiving the message. In 2011, 40% of those who contacted the NSPCC by text said they would not have made contact without the texting facility

Without ever under-estimating the difficulty in making a contact, we need to work hard to deliver the message that we all share a Common Law and an Ethical Duty of Care towards Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults. The abuser’s power grows in the assumption of silence.