Child neglect - Protecting children now will pay later

REPORTS of child neglect have been on the increase, as referrals to the health boards increased by almost 6.5% in 2004 over the previous year.

There were more than 5,000 children in the care of the health boards last year.

The neglect takes on various forms, such as leaving children at home alone or depriving them of food and proper clothing, disregarding their health, and leaving them in unsanitary and unhygienic conditions, as well as endangering them through a lack of proper supervision.