Sadly, we have recently had cause to reflect on the efficacy of the laws and institutions that protect children from harm.

With the media reporting the deeply upsetting tale of a mother starving her child to death and the saddening news that social workers were with her only months prior to her death, many questions have surfaced about what can be done to prevent such tragedies in the future.

This is the concern of the National Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

The NSPCC is calling on parliamentary candidates to back new laws that will ensure that high-risk children can be seen alone by child protection agents.  A report by Ofsted stated that when cases resulted in fatality or serious injury, it was most often due to not being able to see the child alone.  Interviews conducted with parents rarely allow children to be truthful for fear of later repercussions. 

This is just one law in a larger packages of child protection reforms proposed.  The NSPCC is adamant that introducing the reforms after the general election will help to give social workers wider parameters in which to work and that this will decrease the instances of tragic cases, such as the aforementioned one.

Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said: “We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities.And the public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done.”

The Society also wants more protection from funding cuts, better theraputic resources for victims and a general push for wider protection of children living with domestic violence.

Voters can lobby their parliamentary candidates at the NSPCC’s campaign website: www.istandforchildren.com.

or you can support them here: NSPCC