Reports to NSPCC of children affected by domestic abuse up 77%

By Hannah Spratt

Reports to the NSPCC’s Helpline of children affected by domestic abuse across the UK have increased by 77% over the last four years.

Last year the charity received its highest ever number of contacts from adults concerned about violent and abusive behaviour around children, reaching 4,749 UK-wide – up more than three quarters from 2012/13.

Callers were seeking guidance from the NSPCC’s trained advisers after witnessing distressing things such as visible bruises, parents being hospitalised, children being exposed to rage and rough handling, and aggressive behaviour towards parents of young babies.

Some 85% of contacts were so serious that they were referred on to other agencies, such as the police or social services. Last year, 40 of these referrals were made to agencies in Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland the NSPCC is tackling domestic abuse via an early-intervention service called Steps to Safety in Belfast, which helps families to reduce stress, manage emotions, and respond calmly to conflict. And the charity’s Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together service (DART), run from our Foyle Service Centre, works with survivors of domestic abuse to help get their lives back on track.

NSPCC in Northern Ireland is also calling on ministers to prioritise the full implementation of the Northern Ireland Executive’s ‘Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse in Northern Ireland Strategy’, including the development of Domestic Homicide Reviews.

David Burns, Head of the adult Helpline at NSPCC in Northern Ireland said: “Witnessing domestic abuse can have a huge impact on a child’s physical and emotional wellbeing, and it is vital that children have access to the right kind of support.

“We all have a part to play in tackling domestic abuse, and it’s important to pick up the phone if you’re concerned so that our trained advisers can offer non-judgemental advice, discuss possibilities and take action where necessary. Stepping in early and putting the child at the heart of all decisions in domestic abuse cases is vital in keeping children safe.”