Last updated by Stephanie.Rosser@essex.gov.uk on Tuesday, April 23, 2024

NSPCC Learning has updated its statistics briefing on child deaths due to abuse or neglect in the UK. This briefing covers the scale of the issue and aims to help professionals make evidence-based decisions about child protection.

Findings from the data:

• In the last five years there was an average of 52 child deaths by assault or undetermined intent a year in the UK.
• Children under the age of one are the most likely age group to be killed by another person, followed by 16- to 24-year-olds.
• Child homicides are most commonly caused by the child’s parent or step-parent.