Physical neglect of children increases

HALF the children on Guernsey's child protection register have suffered physical neglect, an annual report has today revealed.

The Islands Child Protection Committee report reveals that physical neglect has risen to become the number one reason for young people being on the register, increasing from 31% of cases in 2007 to 50% in 2011.

By comparison, 42% of the children on Scotland's list suffered physical neglect – defined as failure to provide a child with the basic necessities of life, such as food and clothing. The report identified Scotland as a comparable jurisdiction for child welfare because it has a similar Children's Law.

Committee chairman David Hughes (pictured) said it was working to ensure co-ordination between all agencies providing services to children. But he said that more could always be done to protect young people locally.