Shock statistics show that every month around 10 adults in the Central Scotland Police force area are charged with not properly looking after their youngsters.

In 2006-07, officers recorded 121 child neglect cases – an increase of six per cent on the previous year.

Chief Constable Andrew Cameron said: "This increase can in part be linked to the force's active drug enforcement campaign whereby children are being found in concerning circumstances under the care or control of drug abusers.

''We are working closely with other agencies to tackle this problem."
Partnership working is the key, according to Margaret Anderson, Falkirk Council's head of service for children and families and criminal justice, who also chairs the local child protection committee.

She said: "The committee is made up of representatives from the police, the NHS, the voluntary sector, council services including education and social work, the Reporter to the Children's Panel and the chairperson of the Children's Panel.

''There are also regular meetings between the chief constable and the chief executives of the council and NHS Forth Valley to consider any trends developing across the area.

"All this goes on behind the scenes but shows how child neglect is very high on the agenda. Ensuring that children are properly looked after is everyone's priority."

The social work boss added that all council staff are trained to watch for signs that children are not being properly looked after.

She said: "Across the board at Falkirk Council all our staff receive training on the signs to look out for that a child may be neglected.
Some are not in the frontline of dealing with such cases but their input can be very useful.

"Building maintenance staff are in and out of houses all the time and are taught to be aware of children appearing to be hungry, dirty or living in poor conditions.

''It's all about making sure people have a level of awareness and know where to report concerns. Every case that is reported to social work is looked at seriously and followed up."

She added that not all parents who abuse drugs or alcohol neglect their children but in some cases, it can occur where money is used for illegal substances rather than feeding or clothing youngsters.

"Where we can, we try and provide enough support for parents to prioritise their children, rather than their addiction to drugs or alcohol. If at all possible we try and keep children with their parents but sometimes, if it is no longer safe for a child to remain, they are taken away but that is at the most extreme end of the spectrum."

Anyone who suspects a child is being neglected should contact any of Falkirk Council's social work offices or their local police office.