SBNI concerned about continued drop in child protection referrals in NI due to the COVID-19 pandemic

January 29, 2021

The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) continues to be concerned that there has been a sustained noticeable drop in child protection referrals to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Children’s Social Services, in the last three weeks.

The current government regulations in Northern Ireland, including the closure of normal school arrangements and the associated nursery and early years provision is likely to have contributed to the reduction in child protection referrals.  As such it is extremely important that the public is aware of the ways in which they can contact police or social services if they are concerned about a child or young person.

The SBNI wants to highlight that the main statutory child protection agencies tasked with keeping children safe and investigating child abuse are open and that social services and the police are and will continue to respond to safeguarding and child protection concerns.

The Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts, the PSNI and the Education Authority are continuing to work together in partnership and with other community and voluntary organisations, to identify vulnerable children and families to provide them with the support and care they need.