In the past six months the Supportline 179 of Appoġġ agency received 78 reports of child abuse, all of which were referred to the Child Protection Service. The service also receives similar reports from various other entities.

A total of 1,019 home visits were made during the same period. The nature of the home visits depended on whether the abuse was being perpetrated at home or outside the home.

Family Affairs Minister Dolores Cristina told Labour MP Carmelo Abela, that the frequency of home visits was established depending on the severity of each particular situation. Concrete action to be taken to stop the abuse was decided on its severity as determined during investi-gations.

Social workers offered their support to families whose parents cooperated and protected their children, but in the past six months, 19 minors had been protected by care order. During the same period 30 cases were referred to the police.