Call for all to join in protecting children

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The contact cards carry phone numbers for people to use if they are worried a child may be at risk of abuse.

The cards are part of an information campaign which has seen child protection advice sent out in Renfrewshire Council payslips and plans to place features in police, council and health board publications.

Tim said: "We cannot protect children unless we all work together. Teachers, doctors and health workers can provide vital early warning when problems start to arise for children, before those problems become serious and hard to deal with. Teachers can spot the first signs of abuse if they know what they are looking for. But it's not just education and health professionals who need to be involved."

"There has to be much more public information with more knowledge and understanding of the role that the community can play. Awareness of the signs of abuse, and a knowledge of what to look for, are key factors in the early identification of problems."

"People such as neighbours and play group staff can all play their part in protecting our children. The whole community should be concerned about child protection. We need to give people good quality, practical information. There needs to be a balanced view about what is an issue of concern and what isn't."

"Most child abuse happens within families. Sexual abuse is often under-reported but the kind of abuse we tend to see most is children being neglected by parents who are struggling to cope, sometimes because of drink, sometimes because of drugs and sometimes because of poverty."

"Very few people set out to abuse their children. There is often a complex set of circumstances which can lead to parents not putting their child's wellbeing first."

"What is often the most damaging is the corrosive long term effect of neglect. The lack of a loving family, the lack of good role models for what a caring, loving home is - these are what lead people to replicate patterns of behaviour in their own lives."

"The issue needs to be put into a proper perspective so that we can draw up a balanced picture of what is going on. We must create a climate where people feel comfortable to report their concerns. Social workers or the police often don't hear about abuse until it has reached an advanced stage. Everyone must be more willing to express their concerns if we are going to prevent serious abuse."

Press release: Thursday 27 March 2008