Signs of Child Abuse

Child abuse in any form can take place anywhere.

Child abuse can happen to any child or young person, no matter what their sex, age or background is.

The signs aren’t always clear, and can change depending on the type of abuse – physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect.

Warning signs

If you’re concerned about any child, or are wondering what the warning signs of child abuse are, we’ve listed some of the things to look out for below.

Physical abuse

Unexplained injuries, bruises or marks
Injuries which have an unusual fracture or are in an unusual place on the body
Fear, watchfulness, over anxiety to please
Small round burns or bite marks
Frequent time off from school

Sexual abuse

Sexual knowledge or comments that you wouldn’t expect from a child
Sexual behaviour that you wouldn’t expect from a child
Unexpected reactions, fear or wariness of people
Repeated urinary or genital infections
Pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases
Self-harming or recurrent abdominal pains

Emotional abuse

Withdrawn, anxious behaviour, lack of self-confidence
Self-harm and eating disorders
Demanding or attention seeking behaviour
Not wanting to communicate
Repetitive, nervous behaviour such as rocking, hair twisting or scratching

Neglect

Dirty, scruffy or unsuitable clothes
No one seeks medical help when the child is ill or hurt
The child is smelly, unclean hair and dirty nails
Dental issues (bad breath)
The child is left alone or with unsuitable carers
The child is thin, pale and lacking energy
Lots of accidents happen to the child
The child is exposed to risks or dangers, such as drugs or needles being left around

Reporting concerns

If you think a child could be at risk of harm, you should report it to one of the following:

Staffordshire County Council’s First Response Service – 0800 1313 126
Stoke-on-Trent’s Safeguarding Referral Team – 01782 235100
Always call 999 in an emergency

Procedure

You do not have to give your name. Social workers will then follow up every report, talk to other people to get a clearer picture and decide what to do from there.

Children are very rarely taken away from home – this only happens when there are real concerns that the child is not safe.

Further information

Please see our Concerned about a child page for answers to some questions you may have about child abuse and what happens after you report.