Budget cuts leave children facing higher risk of abuse

THE number of children feared to be at risk of abuse has soared by more than 40 per cent in Edinburgh amid fears that budget cuts will leave social workers and police unable to cope.

A new report on protecting vulnerable youngsters revealed that the demand for services has "increased significantly, and it is anticipated that this trend will continue".

Despite this, agencies behind child protection in the Capital say the "inevitable consequences of budget pressures" mean resources will have to focus on "those at the highest risk".

The move has sparked fears that some youngsters vulnerable to physical injury, sexual abuse or neglect, but not immediately considered at high risk, will slip through the cracks.

The city council, police and NHS Lothian have drawn up a new strategy for public protection in a bid to cope with budget demands. The strategy calls for a data-sharing system on youngsters at risk and greater inter-agency cooperation.

Their report highlights a rise in child protection conferences from 287 in 2007-8 to 407 in 2008-9, up nearly 42 per cent.

The conferences involve meetings between social workers, health professionals and police to decide whether a youngster should be placed on the child protection register.

Paul Carberry, operational director for Action for Children Scotland, said: "There will be more children at higher risk if we fail to fix problems at an earlier stage."

The number of youngsters on the child protection register fell in the last year, from 287 to 256, but phone calls to social workers at the children and families department soared to 2221 contacts in January compared with 1346 last February.

Meanwhile, new figures from Chief Constable David Strang's quarterly report revealed that 85 cases of "cruelty to children" were recorded in the force area between April and June, compared with a three-year average of 58.

A city council spokeswoman said: "An inevitable consequence of budgetary pressures faced by the public sector means we need to consider how to focus our resources to best effect. However, this does give an opportunity for health, social care and the police to work together more effectively."