Demand for Government survey after huge rise in child emotional abuse

Ministers have been asked to “step in now” and commission a study to assess the extent of child abuse and neglect following a 200 per cent rise in children being emotionally mistreated. The NSPCC received 10,009 calls reporting child emotional abuse in 2016/17, up from 3,341 in 2009/10. This form of abuse can involve deliberately trying to scare or humiliate a child, or ignoring them. It is not a criminal offence, but the charity believes victims are often suffering other types of abuse or neglect – and added many more victims may not be reporting their experiences. Chief Executive Peter Wanless said: “Hearing reports from our helpline about parents or carers who are consistently verbally assaulting, bullying, isolating or humiliating their children is devastating. “The huge increase in people recognising and reporting emotional abuse to our helpline indicates people are willing to take action, but the disturbing truth is that the UK has no idea how many other children are suffering from emotional abuse or in fact, any type of abuse. “We urgently need Government to step in now, before another eight years go by, and commission a study that gives us the clearest possible picture of the extent of child abuse and neglect in the UK.”