Special helpline open on Hogmanay after rise in child protection fears

A special helpline is opening over Hogmanay for the first time after a rise in callers worried about child protection issues or domestic violence.

ParentLine Scotland said it had received 11 calls on these issues in the first week of a campaign against domestic violence – double the amount it received in the same period last year.

The free telephone and e-mail service is to stay open over the Hogmanay period for the first time in its 12-year history.

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ParentLine Scotland is run by the charity Children 1st, whose director of policy and practice development Alison Todd said: “Hogmanay should be a time of celebration and looking to the future with optimism.

“But when there is violence in the home it is often a time that children fear, and people often forget that domestic abuse has such a negative impact on children.”

As well as taking calls from parents, other relatives, neighbours and friends use the service if they are concerned about a child.

ParentLine Scotland is open from 10am till 1pm until Monday January 2. It can be contacted on 0800 028 2233 or by e-mailing [email protected].