Battersea Power Station Chimneys Go Green For Kids
NSPCC launches Christmas campaign to tackle rising child cruelty and neglect
November 29, 2019
The iconic chimneys at Battersea Power Station have become the latest UK landmark to show support for the NSPCC’s Christmas Appeal, by lighting up in the charity’s trademark green.
The NSPCC (National Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Children) has launched its Light For Every Childhood Christmas Appeal to raise awareness of child neglect and abuse.
The charity reports that it has analysed police data for the UK over the last five years and found child cruelty and neglect offences has risen every year. In London there were 2,937 child cruelty and neglect crimes recorded by police in 2018/19, a 13% increase from 2013/14 when 2,596 such offences were registered.
Reports to police included extreme cases of when parents or carers deliberately neglected, assaulted, abandoned or exposed their child to serious harm and unnecessary suffering.
In addition, recorded police offences of this type don’t reveal the full picture of neglect in the UK, because local authorities will step in before many of these cases are reported as a crime.
Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, said, “To see year after year the number of neglect and cruelty offences rise so dramatically is disturbing. Greater public awareness and improvements in police recording could be factors in this continuous increase, but deeper societal issues such as increasing pressure on parents and a lack of investment in early intervention services, are leaving more children vulnerable and exposed to pain and suffering.
“Whatever the reasons for the rise, cruelty to children is never ok. It is vital that children always have a place they can go to seek help and support, day and night. Childline never stops and never sleeps, but for this to continue we need the public’s support and to back our ‘Light for Every Childhood’ Appeal.”
The NSPCC Christmas Appeal is calling for donations so it can be there for children suffering from neglect and abuse at Christmas and all year round.
Just £3 pays for Childline to answer a call with a neglected or abused child, to donate visit the NSPCC website.
Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk