33% rise in child abuse cases in first four months

The number of child abuse cases reported to social work agency Agenzija Appogg in the first four months of the year increased by 33 per cent, to 206, when compared with the figure for the same period last year.

Agenzija Appogg chief executive Joe Gerada said the rise was due to higher awareness and lower tolerance of child abuse. "These two factors are exposing more cases."

On Wednesday, the ministry of education released figures showing schools had referred 370 cases of child abuse since the beginning of 2000, while agencies and other units referred another 95.

The largest number of reported cases were of a sexual nature, 173, followed by physical abuse, 127, and neglect, 103.

Government primary schools referred most of the cases, 206, while 87 cases were referred by area secondary schools and 43 cases by Church primary and secondary schools.

Mr Gerada said the majority of cases referred to the agency in the first four months involved physical abuse, and a significant number were of sexual abuse.

Mr Gerada told The Times yesterday that there were also cases of a different nature.

One bizarre case investigated by Agenzija Appogg, which is still being following closely by social workers, involved a boy with evident bites on several parts of his body.

The medical authorities, in collaboration with the social workers, conducted tests to establish the nature of the bites only to discover they were not human.

A search at his parents' home found the residence in complete mess and neglect. They did not have a bathroom or even a toilet.

Further investigations revealed that the bites were made by a weasel.

In this case, Mr Gerada said, the child abuse was not physical or sexual but of complete neglect.

It transpired that the parents had severe problems. "The complete neglect at the house was terrible," he said.

Mr Gerada said the agency was working hard to strengthen its operations in order to be able to tackle the increase in reported cases and bolster its child protection services.

The agency offers the services of social workers, psychological help and assistance to parents with problems. It also intervenes to ensure that children under risk will be protected by a child order.

Mr Gerada explained that the agency was taking other initiatives such as the Child and Family Team, in which the social workers help parents facing difficulties with their children. Another programme is specifically aimed at pregnant mothers with social and psychological problems.

Mr Gerada maintains that the Children's Act will significantly strengthen the operations of the agency once it comes into effect. "It will give us more power to protect children," he said.