What Is Child Abuse?
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?
Child abuse is the term used when a person aged 18 years or under is being harmed or not being looked after in a proper fashion.
Child abuse can a one off action or many actions over a period of time.
Child abuse can happen in person and online.
WHAT ARE THE FOUR MAIN TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE?
There are 4 main types of child abuse:
Physical abuse – Physically abusing a child means hitting, pulling hair, burning, suffocating, violently shaking or poisoning them to name a few. It also includes bringing about an illness in a child.
A child may show bruises, cuts, have broken bones and burns.
Emotional and psychological abuse – This includes constantly putting a child down, making them feel uncared for, unloved, giving them the silent treatment, and making them feel worthless. It also includes over protecting them and them witnessing domestic abuse.
Sexual abuse – This is when a child is coerced or forced into any sexual activity. Sexual abuse includes online grooming of young children, showing a child pornographic images, a child taking part in pornography, and taking and sharing indecent and nude pictures of children.
Neglect – This is the failure to look after a child’s needs properly. Not providing them with food, shelter, clothing, medical care, health care, and not looking after their mental, emotional and physical needs.
ARE THERE OTHER FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE THAT ARE NOW RECOGNISED?
Yes there are. The following are now also recognised forms of child abuse. They are discussed elsewhere on our L.I.P website. We have given the links.
Bullying
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO BULLYING AND HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS
Cyberbullying
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO ONLINE STALKING AND ONLINE BULLYING
Online abuse & grooming
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR ONLINE CHILD ABUSE & ONLINE CHILD GROOMING
Child sexual exploitation and grooming
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
Child trafficking
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR CHILD TRAFFICKING
Domestic abuse and violence
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE AND VIOLENCE
Child criminal exploitation and gangs
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR CHILD CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION AND CRIMINAL GANGS
Female genital mutilation
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)
Abandonment
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR CHILD ABANDONMENT
WHAT IS SARAH’S LAW?
Sarah’s law was passed in 2011 and concerns the child sex offender disclosure scheme. Under this scheme, you (the parent, carer, or guardian) can ask the police for information on people who have contact with your children regarding convictions for sexual offences against children. The police can refuse your request. Sarah’s law is named after Sarah Payne, an eight year old girl who was abducted and murdered in 2000 when she was visiting her grandparents. You can call 101, visit a police station, or make an online application.
LINK TO MAKING AN APPLICATION UNDER SARAH’S LAW
CAN LOCAL AUTHORITY CHILD SERVICES ASK FOR A CHILD TO HAVE A MEDICAL EXAMINATION?
If local authority child services want a child they think is being abused to have a medical examination but the parents or the person with parental responsibility is not agreeing then they will need to make an application to the court to get a court order.
HOW CAN YOU REPORT CHILD ABUSE?
Please note the name of any person who reports child abuse to any organisation will never be revealed. Sometimes the individual can report the abuse anonymously.
There are many ways you can report child abuse:
You can contact the Police – You can dial 999 if a child is at immediate risk or a child abuse crime has been committed. Alternatively if there is no emergency you can dial 101 or file a report online.
LINK TO POLICE WEBSITE TO REPORT A CRIME ONLINE
You can contact Crimestoppers – You can report a crime anonymously to crimestoppers. Their telephone number is 0800 555 111
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CRIMESTOPPERS.
You can contact your local authority child services – You can contact your local authority child services and report child abuse.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE TO A LOCAL COUNCIL
You can contact the NSPCC – You can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns and report child abuse. If the child is in danger they will call the police.
WHERE CAN YOU AS A PARENT TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
You can contact NSPCC – If your child has suffered child abuse you can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns. If the child is in danger they will call the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US
You can contact FAMILY LIVES – Family lives was previously known as parentline. You can speak to them about your concerns that your child has suffered child abuse.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US
You can contact SAMARITANS – The samaritans are a free organisation that you can talk to about child abuse. Call their helpline on 116 123. They are available 24 hours a day. You can email them, chat online or write them a letter.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SAMARITANS – CONTACT US
You can contact SUPPORTLINE – Supportline can provide confidential emotional support over the phone about child abuse. Their helpline number is 01708 765 200. You can also email them.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SUPPORTLINE – CONTACT US
You can contact your local authority child services – You can call them directly or look on their website to see if there are any local support groups where you can get support.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
You can contact VICTIM SUPPORT – Victim support is a charity that can help individuals who have been the victim of a crime. They have a free confidential support telephone line and live chat. They are independent of the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR VICTIM SUPPORT – CONTACT US
You can contact other organisations –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 16 – CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.
You can read our help guide for where you can reach out to get help if your child is a victim –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR WHERE CAN YOU REACH OUT TO GET HELP IF YOUR CHILD IS A VICTIM
WHERE CAN YOUR CHILD TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
Your child can contact CHILDLINE – If your child has suffered from child abuse and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.