This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister urges vigilance to keep children safe
29/09/2006
Everyone must continue to be vigilant and report any concerns about children who may be at risk of being abused, Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said today.
He was speaking as statistics showing an increase in the number of children referred to child protection committees were published.
The increase is thought to be down to more effective identification of children who need help.
Mr Brown said:
"No child should have to suffer the horror of abuse. Any who do must be quickly identified and get the help they need to ensure that they are safe and protected. These statistics tell us that this is happening.
"Our child protection programme has achieved a great deal, including helping to increase understanding of child protection issues. This is a complex area, and it is not always easy to spot abuse where it occurs.
"We have improved the guidance for agencies dealing with these troubling cases. We have also set out a Framework for Standards, which makes it clear what children and their families can expect from services that are working to protect children.
"And we are continuing to take action. We are strengthening and modernising children's services and - just this week - introduced a Bill which will ensure that agencies share information about children who might be at risk.
"These moves demonstrate our commitment to keeping children safe. However, we can never be complacent in such a critical area. Everyone has a responsibility to be vigilant and report concerns about the well-being of Scotland's children wherever these arise. Only then can we be sure that we are all doing what we can to help protect our children."
The Child Protection Statistics 2005/06 are available at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00529
Under our child protection reform programme we have:
- Established clear practice standards, by publishing a Framework for Standards
- Strengthened the role and responsibilities of Child Protection Committees
- Established a tough new system of multi-disciplinary inspection of child protection services
- Published a Children's Charter, drawn up in conjunction with professionals and children, that sets out the support that children have the right to expect
- Provided extra support for helplines that provide counselling and support for children - ChildLine and ParentLine