Children are safer today than they’ve ever been (From Thisisdorset)

Children are safer today than they’ve ever been

9:00am Friday 5th February 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)

VIOLENT deaths among children in England and Wales have plummeted in the last three decades, according to a major study published by Bournemouth University.

A team from the uni’s School of Health and Social Care studied the numbers of children killed in 10 developed countries.

Their report revealed that the number of children killed aged 14 and under in England and Wales fell by 40 per cent from 136 in 1974 to 84 in 2006.

As a proportion of the child population, the death rate nearly halved from 32 to 17 per one million children – the fourth lowest in the western world, according to the report’s compilers in Bournemouth.

Professor Colin Pritchard, who specialises in the study of child protection issues, said: “Thirty years ago England and Wales were the third or fourth highest child killers in the Western world, but we’re now fourth lowest.

“There’s been a gradual decline in these terrible events.”

Improved monitoring by social workers and better communication between health visitors, doctors and police are said to have led to the fall.

Professor Pritchard added: “When these things go wrong it is very often because the usual good working together has actually broken down.”

The study examined nine other major developed countries, with most showing similar reductions.

Spain had the lowest violent death rate, at four deaths per million children, with Italy on five.

The United States’ figure was highest at 47 deaths per million, with Germany second highest at 21.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)