Close to 11 per cent more children were referred to social services in the year to March than in the preceding 12 months, a government report reveals.
A total of 657,800 children were referred over the 12 months, up from 593,500 the previous year. Close to a quarter of those referrals were made by the Police.
Nearly 400,000 children were officially classed as being in need at the end of March – five per cent more than on the same day the previous year. More than 47 per cent had been subjected to abuse or neglect . and just under 19 per cent had been referred to due to family problems.
More than 48,300 children were made subject to protection plans , in which their care needs and best interests were set out. This figure also represents an increase – of more than 12 per cent – on 2013.
The statistics were published by the Department for Education (DfE). Earlier this month, it published figures showing a steady increase in the numbers of ‘looked after’ children in the care of local authorities.
Read the new Department for Education release here.
