Report child abuse

Emotional abuse happens in many ways. It can affect how a young person or child feels about themselves, or hw they fit in with friends, at school, or where they live.

Examples of emotional abuse include:

• being made to feel inadequate, worthless or unloved
• being unfairly blamed
• being bullied, including over the internet (cyber bullying)
• being made to feel frightened or in danger
• witnessing the abuse of others such as domestic abuse

Signs and symptoms of emotional abuse in children can include:

• reduced physical, mental and emotional development
• continual self-depreciation, for example saying “I’m stupid”, “I’m ugly”, or “I’m worthless”
• inappropriate response to pain, for example “I deserve this”
• neurotic behaviour, for example rocking, hair twisting or self-mutilation

Neglect is when a child or young person’s basic needs are persistently not being met by their parent or guardian.

These basic needs include:

• adequate food, clothing and shelter
• protection from physical and emotional harm or danger
• adequate supervision (including not being left at home alone)
• access to appropriate medical care including dental treatment

Signs and symptoms of neglect in children can include:

• constant hunger or tiredness
• poor personal hygiene
• poor condition and cleanliness of clothing
• untreated medical problems
• no social relationships

Physical abuse is when someone hurts a child or young person on purpose.

Examples of physical abuse include:

• hitting, slapping, shaking or throwing
• burning or scalding
• drowning, suffocating or choking
• pushing or kicking
• inappropriate restraint or false imprisonment
• using physical force to discipline
• misusing medication
• fabricating or inducing an illness or ill health

Signs and symptoms of physical abuse in children can include:

• unexplained recurrent injuries, marks or burns
• covering injuries with clothing even in hot weather
• fear of physical contact and shrinking back if touched

Sexual abuse is when a child is enticed or forced to take part in sexual activities. This kind of abuse does not always involve a high level of violence, and the child may or may not be aware of what is happening.

The abuse may be committed by adult men and women, or by other children.

Examples of sexual abuse include:

• causing or inciting a child to watch or engage in sexual activities
• encouraging a child to behave in sexually inappropriate ways
• involving a child in looking at sexual images or videos
• involving a child in the production of sexual images or videos
• grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet)

Signs and symptoms of sexual abuse in children can include:

• extreme reactions such as depression, self-mutilation, suicide attempts, running away, overdoses or anorexia
• personality changes such as becoming insecure or clinging
• being isolated or withdrawn
• medical problems such as chronic itching, pain in the genitals or venereal diseases

Another form of sexual abuse is child sexual exploitation.

• Barnardos, a Children’s charity that supports children and families affected by issues such as sexual exploitation and domestic abuse.
• Childline, who can be called for free on 0800 111. You can talk about any problem and there will always be someone there to help you. You can also chat to them online
• The Children’s Society, which is a UK charity dedicated to supporting children and young people, especially those facing abuse, exploitation, and neglect. They also campaign for social change to improve wellbeing
• CEOP Education, a website for children and young people that gives honest and frank advice on topics including sex and relationships, and the internet. They also have a safety centre where you can find out what to do if someone has acted inappropriately towards you online if you are a child or young person
• Internet Watch Foundation, which helps child victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation by hunting down and removing any online record of the abuse
• iVision Trust (formerly PACE) are an organisation that offers support for families affected by criminal or sexual exploitation The NSPCC provide a wide range of services for both children and adults, including national helplines for 24/7 help and advice
• Report Remove is a tool designed to help young people under 18 in the UK to confidentially report and remove intimate images or videos of themselves that have been shared online without consent
• Stop and Prevent Adolescent Criminal Exploitation (SPACE) was founded in response to the national issue of exploited children through the county lines network. They aim to raise awareness and provide advice and consultancy services
• The Survivor Pathway is a guide for anyone wanting to know more about specialist sexual violence services. Anyone who has experienced rape or any kind of sexual assault or abuse needs to be involved in decisions about what happens next, be informed enough to make their own choices and have control over their journey
• Young Victims Services is a service for young people from 8-18 (up to 25 for those with additional needs) who have been victims of crime or antisocial behaviour