Scottish Government

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published the Child Protection Statistics 2008/09. This publication contains the latest figures on the number of child protection referrals, number of child protection referrals that resulted in a case conference, number of registrations, number of de-registrations and number of children on child protection registers

The main findings are:

• In 2008/09, there were 12,713 child protection referrals, an increase of 3% compared with the previous year. Forty-seven per cent of these referrals were for boys, 49% were for girls, and 4% were for children whose gender was not known (largely due to being unborn). ( Table 1, Chart 1)
• Thirty-seven per cent of child protection referrals resulted in an inter-agency case conference in 2008/09. This compares to 35% in 2007/08 and 39% in 2006/07. ( Table 1, Table 2, Chart 4)
• Seventy-nine per cent of children who were subject to a case conference were living at home prior to being referred, the same as in the previous year. ( Table 2)
• For 85% of children who were subject to a case conference, the primary known/suspected abuser was the child's natural parents (where this was known), one percentage point lower than in the previous year. ( Table 3)
• Of the 4,720 case conferences, 77% resulted in the child being placed on the local child protection register. This compares to 65% in 2007/08 and 68% in 2006/07. ( Table 3, Table 4, Chart 4)
• The total number of registrations on to child protection registers between 1 ^stApril 2008 and 31 ^st March 2009 was 3,628, a rise of 29% compared with the previous year. The number of registrations on to child protection registers as a result of emotional abuse were up by 43%, for physical neglect were up by 29%, for physical injury were up by 23%, and for sexual abuse were up by 21%. ( Table 4, Chart 2)
• Fourteen per cent of registrations on to child protection registers in 2008/09 were of children who were known to have been previously on a child protection register. This compares with 16% in 2007/08 and 12% in 2006/07. ( Table 5)
• The total number of de-registrations from child protection registers between 1 ^stApril 2008 and 31 ^st March 2009 was 3,499, an increase of 9% compared with the previous year. Seventy six per cent of these de-registrations were for children who had been on the register for less than one year compared with 75% in the previous year. ( Table 6)
• Thirty four per cent of all de-registrations from child protection registers were because of an improved home situation. A further 15% were because the child was taken into care and risk reduced, 8% were because the child was with other carers, 2% were because the perpetrator was removed, and 5% were because the child moved away and there was no continued risk or the child was transferred to another local authority. The remaining 35% were because of some other form of reduced risk. ( Table 6)
• As at 31 March 2009, there were 2,682 children on Child Protection Registers, an increase of 10% compared with the previous year. There were slightly more boys than girls on child protection registers, and 83% of children were under the age of 11 years old (including unborns). ( Table 7)
• At 31 ^st March 2009, 47% of all children on local child protection registers were registered because of physical neglect (down 1 percentage point compared with the previous year), 25% because of emotional abuse (up 2 percentage points compared with the previous year), 21% because of physical injury (the same as in the previous year) and 7% because of sexual abuse (up 1 percentage point compared with the previous year). ( Table 8)
• The ethnic group for children on child protection registers was collected for the first time in 2008/09. At 31 ^st March 2009, 82% of all children on local child protection registers were reported as being from a 'White' ethnic group, with a further 2% being from a 'Mixed' ethnic group, 1% from a 'Black, Black Scottish or Black British' ethnic group, and 1% from an 'Other' ethnic group. Please note that 1% of all children on child protection registers were reported as having a 'Not disclosed' ethnic group whilst the remaining 13% were reported with an 'Unknown' ethnic group. ( Table 8)
• The disability status for children on child protection registers was also collected for the first time in 2008/09. At 31 ^st March 2009, 70% of all children on local child protection registers were reported as not having a disability, whilst 7% were reported as having some form of disability. Please note, however, that 23% of all children on child protection registers were reported with an 'Unknown' disability status. ( Table 8)

The following charts are available:

Chart 1 - Number of child protection referrals by gender, 1999/00-2008/09
Chart 2 - Number of registrations to child protection registers following a case conference by category of abuse/risk, 1999/00-2008/09
Chart 3 - Number of children on child protection registers by gender, at 31 March 2000-2009
Chart 4 - Child Protection Statistics 2008/09 - Flow Chart

The following tables are available:

Table 1- Number of child protection referrals: 1999/00-2008/09 by gender and age group
Table 2- Number of child protection referrals that resulted in a case conference: 1999/00-2008/09 by placement of children prior to referral
Table 3- Number of child protection referrals that resulted in a case conference: 1999/00-2008/09 by child's primary known/suspected abuser
Table 4- Number of registrations following a case conference: 1999/00-2008/09 by category of abuse/risk identified by conference
Table 5- Number of registrations following a case conference: 2005/06-2008/09 by length of time since de-registration before this registration
Table 6- Number of de-registrations: 1999/00-2008/09 by category of abuse/risk identified, length of time on register and reason for de-registration
Table 7- Number of children on child protection registers: 31 March 2000-2009 by gender and age group
Table 8- Number of children on child protection registers: 31 March 2006-2009 by category of abuse/risk identified, ethnic group and disability status
Table 9- Numbers of child protection referrals, subject to a case conference, registrations, de-registrations and on child protection registers: 2000-2009
Table 10- Number of children on child protection registers and population rates: 31March 2000-2009 by local authority
Table 11- Numbers of child protection referrals, subject to a case conference, registrations, de-registrations and on child protection registers by local authority: 2008/09

BACKGROUND NOTES

Method of Collection

Each local authority is asked to submit an annual survey form providing aggregate data for children going through the process of child protection. Figures were collected for the number of child protection referrals, number of child protection referrals that resulted in a case conference, number of registrations, number of de-registrations and number of children on child protection registers. The dates for the collection is throughout the financial year, 1 ^st April 2008 to 31 ^st March 2009.

Change in Methodology

From 2005/06, to improve consistency in reporting across local authorities, the question in relation to the number of child protection referrals was revised from asking for the number of children who had a child protection referral to asking for the total number of child protection referrals and the total number of children these involved. The reason for this change was to take into account that a child may be subject to more than one child protection referral in the same year, and that more than one child could be involved in a single child protection referral. In previous years, the child was only being counted once by some local authorities, whereas from 2005/06 this was now a count of referrals and a child could be counted more than once. Also, if a number of children were included in a single child protection referral, then all children were to be counted (as if they had each had their own child protection referral).

This change in the way Child Protection Referrals were to be counted may also have affected the number of Case Conferences and any subsequent Child Protection Registrations (see Tables 2 - 5) as a child who was subject to more than one Case Conference and Child Protection registration during the year will now be counted more than once by some local authorities.

As a result of this change any comparisons pre- and post- 2005/06 should be made with caution.

Changes over Time

In 2008/09, some local authorities reported a change in recording methods and practices. In addition, local authorities also report child protection awareness campaigns for staff or members of the public which can affect comparisons over time.

It should be noted that different local authorities may classify child protection referrals differently. For example, some local authorities start the referral process at a different point and some local authorities do not include unborn children. As a result of these differences, comparisons across years and across local authorities should be made with caution.

Revisions to 2007/08 figures

One local authority revised some of their previously published 2007/08 figures. These revisions have resulted in the number of child protection referrals and the number of child protection referrals that resulted in a case conference for 2007/08 being revised. The same local authority also revised the number of children on child protection registers at 31 ^st March 2008.

Resources

The information in this News Release was obtained from the statistical return. The attached link gives details of the statistics collected from each local authority. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Children/SurveyChildProtection

This Statistics Publication Notice is available on the Scottish Government website at:- www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00763

Related publications on referrals, assessments and children who are the subject of a child protection plan can be found at::-

England: 2008/09 Child Protection Statistics for England were released on Thursday 17 September 2009. The following link shows the latest statistical publications for child protection: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000873/index.shtml

Wales: Child protection data at 31 March 2009 will be published as part of the Children Services data was published on 23 September 2009 and the Child Protection bulletin 2009 will be published on 26 November 2009. Figures for 2008 are available at:
Children's services: http://www.dataunitwales.gov.uk/News.asp?id=SXE605-A77FC222
Child protection bulletin: http://www.dataunitwales.gov.uk/Publication.asp?id=SXE22E-A77FC7B3
Northern Ireland: Children Order statistical tables and a Children Order statistical bulletin are published annually. The latest and historical figures for both are available at: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-cib/stats-cib_pubs/stats-cib-children_order_bulletin.htm
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00685
More information on other children's areas and social work staffing, can be seen at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/childrenstats

General

This is a National Statistics publication for Scotland. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics at http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/code-of-practice/code-of-practice-for-official-statistics.pdf . They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs and are produced free from any political interference.

Statistics assessed, or subject to assessment, by the UK Statistics Authority carry the National Statistics label, a stamp of assurance that the statistics have been produced and explained to high standards and that they serve the public good.

Further information about Official and National Statistics can be found on the UK Statistics Authority website at www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT STATISTICS GROUP

Our Aim

To provide relevant and reliable information, analysis and advice that meet the needs of government, business and the people of Scotland.

For more information on the Statistician Group, please see the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/statistics

For public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this Statistics Publication Notice, or for more detailed information, please contact:-

Denise Macleod

Telephone: 0131 244 0313
e-mail: children.statistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

For media enquiries, please contact Brendan Rooney on 0131 244 2960.

The Scottish Government website is www.scotland.gov.uk.

General enquiries on Scottish Government statistics can be addressed to:

Telephone: 0131 244 0442
e-mail: statistics.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Further contact details, e-mail addresses and details of previous and forthcoming publications can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/statistics

Complaints and suggestions

If you are not satisfied with our service, please write to the Chief Statistician, Mr Rob Wishart, 1N.04, St Andrews House, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG, Telephone: 0131 244 0302, e-mail rob.wishart@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. We also welcome any comments or suggestions that would help us to improve our standards of service.

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