Figures point to child protection issues

Nearly one in 10 Child Protection Orders issued in Scotland came from Dundee in the last two years, new figures have revealed.

A report by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration has shown that in 2013/14, 79 children in the city were made subject to a CPO — with 59 issued in 2014/15.

A legal measure to protect children in emergency situations, CPOs are only issued by a sheriff as a last resort and the child has to be at risk of “significant” harm for an order to be granted.

Across Scotland, 734 orders were issued in 2013/14, with nearly half coming from Dundee, Glasgow and Fife in both 2013/14 and 2014/15. The most common reason for an order is lack of parental care, which accounted for two thirds of the total.

Rosie Campbell, Scottish Children’s Reporter manager for Tayside/Fife, said: “Over the last few years, Dundee has had the highest proportion of CPOs per 1,000 children in Scotland.

“We are also seeing more CPOs being granted for newborn babies, reflecting their greater vulnerability and requirement for immediate protection. We will continue to work closely with our partners to make sure these children and their families receive the help they need.”

Kieran Watson, a peer worker at charity Eighteen and Under, said there are a number of factors which could affect Dundee’s high figures.

He said: “It may just be that Dundee leans more towards CPOs but there is also a big drug problem, which is also likely to play its part.

“If it’s the case that Dundee council has a more aggressive approach than other local authorities, that can cause problems.”

Mr Watson said there is likely to be a direct correlation between deprivation and the number of CPOs issued. “There is absolutely a link,” he added. “If you take a social worker going in to look at a new mother from a poorer background, they are likely to come from a higher socio-economic one and have a different approach to parenting.”

Councillor John Alexander, the city’s children and young people’s champion, said: “An order is always sought in the best interests of the child and consideration is always given as to whether they can be placed with an appropriate relative.”