As a prelude to the BASPCAN Congress 2012, to be held at
Queen's University, Belfast between 16th and 18th April, we are reminded of the number of children whose names have
been placed on Child Protection Registers in the four UK countries (in England
the nomenclature is “Placed on a Child Protection Plan”).
Trends in all four countries since 2006 have been markedly
up, with England showing the greatest growth, a whopping 60% percent increase. Northern
Ireland experienced a 46% growth and Wales a 33% rise. The smallest increase was
in Scotland, 19%.
Once again the message is clear. The child protection system
continues to absorb unprecedented growth in demand without any clear policy
about how resources can expand to match it. A recipe for disaster is in the
making unless policy-makers hear the message and react quickly.
Here are the figures in detail:
2006 (number of children)
England 26400
Wales 2165
Scotland 2157
Northern Ireland 1639
2011 (number of children)
England 42330
Wales 2880
Scotland 2571
Northern Ireland 2401
