Community and living

What to do if you are worried about a child's safety

If you suspect that a child is being harmed, or you need help looking after your own child, you should contact the Croydon Children's Services on:

020 8726 6400 (24 Hours)

It is important that you act immediately.

There are different types of abuse and neglect and a child may experience more than one type. These are:

• Emotional abuse: when parents or carers fail to show their children sufficient love and attention, or when they threaten, taunt or belittle them
• Physical abuse: when parents, carers or other adults deliberately injure a child, or do not protect the child from injury
• Sexual abuse: when an adult, young person or older child involves a child in sexual activity to which the child cannot consent because of his or her age or understanding
• Persistent or severe neglect: when parents or carers fails to meet a child's essential needs, or when children are left without proper supervision, leaving them unsafe or unprotected.

If you are worried that a child or young person is at risk of abuse or neglect, please contact Children’s Services straight away. You should report your concerns even if the person you suspect of abusing or neglecting a child is your partner, a member of your family or someone you know well.

For more information please see the associated links.

Contact Details

Contact name

Croydon Safeguarding Children Board

Telephone

020 8726 6400 (24 hours)