Nursery World - Opportunities are missed to help child domestic abuse victims, says NSPCC

In the last year, the NSPCC received almost 1,400 contacts to its helpline about children experiencing coercive and controlling behaviour as part of domestic abuse.

Data published by the NSPCC reveals that from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, its helpline responded to 4,412 contacts from adults whose main concern was domestic abuse.

A total of 1,359 contacts specifically mentioned coercive and controlling behaviour.

Over the same period, Childline delivered 1,096 counselling sessions with children and young people whose main concern was domestic abuse. In 221 sessions, children specially mentioned concerns about coercive and controlling behaviour.

Some adults contacting the NSPCC helpline talked about their children being quiet, stressed and depressed.

What is domestic abuse?

According to the NSPCC, ‘Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people who are, who have been in a relationship, regardless of gender or sexuality.

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