A report presented to Northumberland County Council’s family and children’s services committee last week showed that the rate of children and young people subject to a child protection plan in the county had reached a 10 year high.

Child protection plans are put in place where there has been significant harm; neglect, physical or sexual abuse, for example.

The report, covering January to March 2020, should have been presented to the committee in May but was delayed because of Covid-19.

The council has a target of 65 children and young people per 10,00 population being subject to a child protection plan, but the overall rate for the year was 71 and, in the last three months of 2019-2020, it had soared to 75.

This was before Covid-19 began to really affect families, so is particularly alarming.

Deputy leader of the Labour group Scott Dickinson said: “We pay tribute to council staff who are responding quickly to the unprecedented demand to protect children and young people. However, to say this situation is concerning is an understatement.

“The council has many plans to ensure the voices of children and young people are heard and they pride themselves on their aim of making our county and great play, to live, study, take part in activities and work.  But something is going wrong when the numbers of children needing protection is rising at this alarming rate.

“The Labour group welcome an in depth discussion across the whole council about this and what can be done to turn this situation around.

“This is the very least our children and young people deserve.”