Huge rise in UK child neglect prompts call for urgent action

Reports of problems rise 60% in five years with nearly nine in 10 serious enough to refer to social services or police

Reports of child neglect in the UK have risen by more than 60% in the last five years with nearly nine in 10 calls proving serious enough to be referred to social services or the police.

Nearly 19,500 calls reporting child neglect were dealt with by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in the last 12 months. The charity said a growing number of callers were concerned about children, some under the age of five, being left at home unsupervised by parents struggling with alcohol and drug use.

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2vWJwzR