NSPCC have warned that children subject to abuse could be at much greater risk during the Christmas period as people are not as likely to report child abuse.

On average, NSPCC’s child helpline receives 200 calls per day, but last year on Christmas Day there was just 72 calls, on Christmas Eve there was 128 and on Boxing day there was 103.

Child safety helpline calls are expected to decline again by two-thirds on Christmas Day this year. This statistic is particularly worrying as 3 calls received last year were serious enough to warrant immediate action from police or social services.

One of these calls was in relation to a four-year-old boy who had been heavily beaten by his father who had been injecting heroin in the bathroom.

Head of the NSPCC helpline, said:
“Some children don’t get a Christmas break from cruelty. It can happen at any time, any day.

But people seem reluctant to report cases of abuse and neglect at this time of year, possibly because they see it as a happy occasion and don’t want to spoil it.

However, this means some children could be left in dangerous situations when help should be on its way.

Hopefully this year people will realise that a child’s safety is more important and give us a call. We are here round-the-clock, 365 days a year.”