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If you have been hurt by someone who was supposed to care for you, know this: it’s not your fault. No one deserves to be abused or neglected. Nothing you have done can excuse abuse. You deserve to feel safe, loved, and happy. It might feel scary or confusing right now, but you can heal and move forward. This guide will help you understand what to do, who to talk to, and how to trust again.
Child abuse is when someone causes harm to a child or young person, either through their actions or by neglecting them. This can happen in different ways and can leave a lasting impact on a child’s life. It’s important to understand what child abuse is so we can recognise it and help those who might be suffering.
Abuse and neglect are serious problems for many children in the UK, affecting their safety, happiness, and wellbeing. Research shows that a significant number of young people face emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, with some experiencing neglect at the hands of those who are meant to care for them. This article will look at how many children in the UK experience abuse or neglect, and what forms of abuse are most common. Unfortunately, the statistics from the government have not been updated since 2020, so we have used information from the NSPCC in this article.
Abuse or neglect can happen to anyone, and sometimes it’s not always obvious that there is anything untoward happening. It can also be an one-off traumatic event or continued abusive behaviour that can happen in person, or even online.
Child abuse includes physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect. You don’t need to be sure that a child or young person has been abused – it’s okay to report a suspicion.
Have you ever felt scared of being hurt by someone you know? Sadly, research suggests that around 7% of people in the UK experienced physical abuse as children.
Have you ever felt like someone is always putting you down, controlling you, or making you feel worthless? Hopefully not – but if you have, you may have experienced emotional abuse.
This page explains the law on smacking and physically disciplining children. It explains when this would amount to an offence and the possible defences to this.
Sexual abuse is when someone is pressured, forced or manipulated into any form of sexual activity with an adult or another young person.
Understanding why people abuse can help us work out the best ways to protect children. Dr Elly Hanson, clinical psychologist and advisor to CEOP, outlines some of the factors involved.
Online grooming is when someone uses the technology or the internet to build a relationship with a young person, with the intention of tricking, pressuring or forcing them into doing something sexual, like sending images or videos of themselves.
Sexual pressure online is when someone keeps asking you to do sexual things that you don’t want to do. Sometimes even when you have said no.
When we are growing up, the experiences we have can affect the development of our body and brain. This means that our mental health including our thoughts, feelings and behaviours can be changed by the experiences we live through.
As a therapist, I have spent many years supporting individuals through a wide range of traumas, but today, the sentencing of Huw Edwards has resurfaced a particularly painful wound for countless victims of child abuse.
Ninety per cent of frontline workers said poverty was a driving factor in cases of child neglect.
By Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs Correspondent
A correlation between the two isn’t the same as a causation, argues Dr Bernard Gallagher.
First global study of its kind exposes ‘staggering scale’ of crime, with one in nine men in the US admitting to the offence.
By Haroon Siddique
Children are among the most vulnerable members of society. They deserve our protection, our love, our care – and our role modelling.
By Victoria Richards
Against the worsening backdrop, the IWF warns moves like Meta’s decision to prevent the blocking of child sexual abuse imagery on Facebook’s Messenger service are ‘utterly incomprehensible’.
National Crime Agency calls for tougher sentencing and a new offence of running abuse websites.
By Vikram Dodd, Police and crime correspondent
