Domestic violence by young parents is leading to more children at risk

Call for action: Cathy Ashley, chief executive of the Family Rights Group, which carried out the research
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A rising number of children are being taken into care to protect them from domestic violence by teenage and other young adult parents, research by a London charity shows today.

The Family Rights Group, which helps families involved with the care system, said the trend was partly the result of a greater awareness among social workers about the harm that witnessing abuse causes children.

But the charity added that the closure of refuges for battered women, cuts to projects to help violent men alter their conduct, and a decline in “early intervention” schemes were other factors behind the increase.

The charity is calling for more investment in education and specialist services for young parents, and warned that unless action is taken, more children were likely to end up in the care system. Cathy Ashley, the charity’s chief executive, said the rise in child protection cases involving domestic abuse was found by analysing calls to the FRG helpline by more than 500 parents aged under 30 in the past year.

Forty two per cent of the young parents subject to child protection investigations by social workers were facing the probe because of domestic violence and growing numbers were having children taken into care.

Ms Ashley said: “Our research indicates that an increasing number of children are involved with child protection social workers and coming into care because of domestic violence by teenage or other young adult parents. This is a concerning trend. Other evidence shows that children taken into care often struggle to succeed. They are more likely to be isolated, out of work, in poverty and poor housing, and become parents at a young age themselves.

“The Government needs to ensure that young people receive education about safe, healthy relationships. We also need improved work to address domestic violence, including specialist services for adult victims, abusers and child survivors.”

She added that domestic violence was also playing an increasing role in child protection cases involving older parents.

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