Violence towards children has fallen in Dorset but more than a third of offences are committed by parents.

An investigation by solicitors' firm Legal Expert has revealed that an average of eight child physical abuse crimes were recorded by Dorset Police every day in the last three years.

The new figures obtained via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests show the number of violent offences against a child (17 years old or younger) including instances of child abuse or neglect.

READ: Dorset Police crime stats increase in shoplifting and theft

The investigation revealed that in Dorset, a total of 8,399 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

An eye-watering 43 per cent of physical abuse crimes towards a child were committed by the parent or guardian between 2021/22, according to Dorset Police. 

The following year, figures climbed to a total of 2,999 violent offences towards children, with 1,083 being at the hands of the child’s parent or guardian.

Between 2023/24, the numbers dropped by 461 there were a total of 2,538 child physical abuse crimes, 39 per cent of which were committed by a guardian or parent.

READ: Latest Home Office crime figures show rise in Dorset

Dorset Council offers a programme called Healing Together which provides support for young people who have been impacted by domestic abuse or other trauma.

The news of the figures prompted Theresa Leavy, executive director for children’s services, to say they want Dorset to be 'the best place' to be a child and signposted where children can get help.

She said: “We want Dorset to be the best place to be a child and encourage anyone who is worried about the safety or well-being of a child to call us straight away on 01305 228866.

“Where children have been impacted by trauma, including physical abuse, we offer our ‘Healing Together’ programme where children can learn about how their body and brain can work together to help them feel safe and calm.”

In April 2024, The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) released a report setting out why England and Northern Ireland should change the law to make physical punishment of a child illegal. 

The report included studies by RCPCH which found smacking can be damaging to children’s behaviour, health and wellbeing. 

READ: Weymouth man arrested and charged with attempted murder

It said for example, children who experience physical punishment are nearly three times more likely to develop poor mental health and twice as likely to be on the receiving end of serious physical assault and abuse. 

NSPCC CEO, Sir Peter Wanless, added: “If an adult hits another adult because they don’t approve of how they’re behaving, it’s described as physical assault.

"But when a parent takes the same action against their child, the law considers it acceptable. This is not right.” 

In England, it is currently unlawful for a parent or carer to smack their child, except where this amounts to ‘reasonable punishment,’ according to section 58 of the Children Act 2004.

The research and Lega Expert investigation can be found here.

 

The UK government said there were no plans to change the law on smacking in England and said it would monitor the impact of law changes in Scotland and Wales.