Fears that child sex abuse cases not being reported due to coronavirus lockdown
Child sex abuse cases in Sandwell have fallen dramatically but social workers are warning of a steep rise in reports when schools reopen in September.
The grim forecast comes despite the numbers of sickening attacks falling by two thirds in the six months up until June.
The vast majority of victims are aged between five and 17 years old, while a baby under 12 months old was also assaulted.
Data revealed by Sandwell Council show 47 sexual assaults were notified to police and social workers – down from 177 during the whole of 2019.
Girls were most at risk, with 35 cases this year.
But experts fear the true numbers of sex abuse has been hidden by the coronavirus lockdown.
Councillor Joyce Underhill, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for best start in life, said: “We’ve been working closely with Sandwell Children’s Trust, the police, health and other partners during this extremely difficult time.
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“We need to remember that schools have been open to vulnerable children throughout the pandemic and children who are already known to us have been contacted regularly to help to keep them safe.
“However, we are expecting an increase in social care referrals once schools are fully open to all children.
“Although schools are one of the highest referrers of children to social care, referrals can come to us through all services, for example from health and the police.
In July, the chairman of Sandwell Children’s Trust, Jacqui Smith, said she feared abuse of all kinds had gone unreported during the pandemic.
She said: “We are worried about an increase, for example, in the cases of domestic abuse we have seen.
“We worry, I think, that despite our attempts to do visiting, either virtual or by other methods, this has been a period of time when children who are potentially at risk have been away from the eyes of professionals whether or not that was in school or by our social workers.”
A recent statement by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services warned: “We fully expect referrals will continue to rise as children come into contact with more professionals who would usually raise safeguarding concerns.
"The pandemic has placed new and additional pressures on many children and families and we are seeing newly vulnerable families because of domestic abuse, neglect and financial hardship, in addition to those we were already supporting.
“When all pupils go back to school in September, we are expecting and planning for a surge in referrals to children’s social care services, this will create significant funding pressures, both in-year and into 2021/22.”
Anyone worried a child is in immediate danger should call the police on 999. If you believe a child is being abused or is at risk of abuse you can find information at sandwell.gov.uk/reportabuse
