Rise in child neglect calls to NSPCC Helpline

The appalling suffering of Khyra Ishaq, the seven year old from Birmingham who was starved to death, has highlighted the issue of serious child neglect in the UK.

As Khyra’s mother, Angela Gordon, and stepfather, Junaid Abuhamza, were today found guilty of her manslaughter, the NSPCC revealed that calls to its Helpline about child neglect have gone up by a third in the last five years. More than half of these cases are so serious they have to be passed to the police or social services.

John Cameron, head of the NSPCC’s Helpline, said: “Screams and cries of ‘let me out’ were reportedly heard from Khyra’s house and she was seen scavenging for food in the garden. One neighbour said she saw the starving girl whimpering in the back garden before she died, dressed just in her underwear. Sadly no one did enough to save her.”

Khyra’s case is sadly not unique. According to John Cameron the NSPCC Helpline receives calls about children living in appalling and dangerous conditions every day. He said: “One five-year-old girl we were asked to help was so hungry she started eating toilet paper. Another case involved a baby whose home was covered in dog mess, rubbish, dirty pans and old nappies.”

“Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. If you have any concerns, take action as soon as possible. Call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Some people might not want to make that call but they shouldn’t shirk responsibility because a child’s life could depend on it.”