Child Abuse Assignment 2022

CHILD ABUSE 1
Child Abuse
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CHILD ABUSE 2
Child Abuse
Child abuse is defined by the “National Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children” as the intentional harm subjected by an adult towards
a child. This can also be done by a child towards a different child. Child
abuse cases happen for long periods of time, or as a one-off case. In most
cases, this form of abuse can be sexual, physical or emotional. With the
advent of technology, most online abuse cases such as bullying and
sexual harassment have been reported. Further, child abuse can be in the
form of neglect especially when children do not receive adequate care,
attention or love from their parents.
In England, the Department for Education has the responsibility for
Protection of children. Legislation, the policy as well as statutory guidance
is formulated by the Department. This is in line with how protection
systems are supposed to work. In addition, safeguarding partners
replaced the Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards in 2018 so that
procedure, policy and guidance levels could be implemented in a better
way, (Nemeroff, 2016, 893). On the other hand, Wales uses the Social
Services and Well-being Act of 2014 as a legal framework to provide social
services. A child’s welfare is taken care of different boards which consist
of members of the local authority, local health officers or police chief
officers. Scotland also has a strong child protection policy in place. This is
headed by Child Protection Committees which implement the multi-

CHILD ABUSE 3
agency protection, guidance, procedure and practice of child protection.
Further, Scotland relies on the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIFREC)
tool that supports young people and children in the protection of their
rights. Similarly, the Children and Young People Act of 2014 provides that
anyone below 18 years is still a child despite statutory guidance being
that one becomes an adult after attaining 16 years.
Issues around child abuse
‘The Bichard Inquiry Report’ plays a significant role in highlighting
the different issues raised in cases of child abuse, (Bichard, 2004, 15).
Focus is mainly placed on child protection procedures especially on how
intelligence is gathered, stored and used in the Protection of children
against physical, sexual or psychological abuse. In addition, the report
provides information on how information is shared between law enforcers
in the United Kingdom, (Widom, Czaja & DuMont, 2015, 1483). Sexual
abuse cases are at times not revealed in time either by the children,
parents or caregivers. This makes it hard for perpetrators to be pursued
and investigated. In most cases, close members of the family take part in
abusing the children. These acts instil fear on the children thus making it
difficult to report. In light of this, law enforcers find it hard to trace
criminal activities because there are no clear mechanisms of storing and
sharing information with the law enforcers and child protection agencies.
This was clearly highlighted as a major concern in North East Lincolnshire
and Humberside Police stations. Without early detection of criminal
activities and child abuse cases, justice is not dispensed. The failure of