National Publications:
NSPCC study finds one in five 11-17 year olds abused and neglected in childhood
Nearly one in five secondary school children in the UK have been severely abused or neglected during childhood, the NSPCC finds in a report published on the 15th February
The finding comes from a survey of 2,275 children aged 11-17 and 1,761 adults aged 18-24 carried out by the charity in 2009.
In all, 18.6 % of the 11-17 year olds had been physically attacked by an adult, sexually abused, or severely neglected. This is equivalent to almost a million secondary school children across the UK.
One in four of the 18-24 year olds (25.3%) also reported severe maltreatment during childhood.
The study follows an earlier NSPCC survey of the childhood experiences of 18-24 year olds in 1998-99.
Together, the two studies reveal falling amounts of childhood abuse and neglect over the last 30 years, from when the respondents in the first study were born.
For more information go to the NSPCC press release
To read the report in full as a pdf click here
Posted 16th February