Increase in offences ‘very alarming’

BARNARDOS chief executive Fergus Finlay said he was shocked by the “very alarming increase” in certain offences and the “significant gap” between offences and prosecutions.

He said the figures highlighted the “vulnerability of children” and the urgent need for greater political priority for children.

“There’s a very alarming increase in some headings and a very alarming gap between recorded offences and convictions, particularly in relation to sexual crime.

“Overall, it highlights the vulnerability of children. They show in a whole lot of ways children are vulnerable and tend to get preyed upon.”

He said the number of homicides was “very shocking but not all surprising” compared to suicides in the age group.

Mr Finlay described as “very frightening”, the large increase in child neglect cases and said this probably reflected a rise in both incidents and reporting.

“It’s probably a reflection in more recent times of the incredible stress families are under. For children who are neglected they don’t have a lot of places to turn to.

“We have got a lot of anecdotal evidence in recent years of domestic violence. The primary target is not children, but they are involved, both as witnesses and victims.

“There are increasing pressures people are coping with. Parents who were both working 18 months ago are now at home and unemployed. That’s leading to an increase in domestic violence.”

Mr Finlay said the number of assaults, particularly serious assaults, was “very shocking” and “way beyond” what he expected.

He also expressed concern at the rise in the number of harassment and menacing phone call cases. “It seems a lot of those statistics relate to bullying and harassment of children.” Many suicides, he said, were related to bullying, which was often done by menacing calls or cyber bullying.

Mr Finlay expressed concern at the rise in murder threats and said it could be related to the involvement of children in gang activities.

Overall, Mr Finlay said the set of figures provided “a very large element of public service” and would prod debate on child welfare.

* Barnardos: 1800 222 300 or www.barnardos.ie