Child protection agencies accused of failing children in Yorkshire

The child protection system could be failing children in our region, according to a new report.

On average, nine out of 10 teachers, police officers and social workers say they are regularly coming into contact with children they suspect are suffering from neglect. And those who reporting witnessing this the most were in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

Many of these frontline staff said they feel powerless to intervene, according to the report, published today by children's charity Action for Children.

The "State of Child Neglect in the UK" reveals that members of the public calling for more support to report rising concerns has almost doubled in the past three years, with studies suggesting up to 10 per cent of UK children (almost 1.5 million) face daily neglect.

Almost 6,000 people including the general public, a range of professionals and 27 local authorities took part in the research through interviews, polls and focus groups.

Carol Iddon, UK North Director of Children's Services at Action for Children, said:

"It is of grave concern that one in every ten children could be suffering neglect. We know that early help has the potential to transform the lives of children and families, yet today's report tells us that the public aren't being given the know-how they need and professionals' best efforts are being hindered by stretched budgets and a lack of resources.

"With more and more families struggling, vulnerable children are falling through the cracks of a child protection system that is failing some of those who need it most - sometimes with tragic consequences."