Are you worried about a child or young person?
Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried about the safety of a child in Aberdeen call:
- 0800 731 5520 (Social Work)
- 101 (Police Scotland)
Contact us even if you are unsure, then we can take steps to assess the risk to the child and, if needed, to support and protect them.
Information for Families Living in Scotland
The below information can be translated to a language of your choice using the 'Accessibility Tools' button in the top right hand corner of this screen.
The Child Protection Committee is a partnership with representatives from all agencies in Aberdeen responsible for Child Protection arrangements including Social Work, Police Scotland, Health, Education, Children’s Hearings, Housing and the Third Sector. The Child Protection Committee aims to support staff and members of the public to ensure Aberdeen is the best place in Scotland to grow up, to promote the care and welfare of our children and to protect them from abuse and harm.
The below information has been put together to share with parents and carers regarding children’s rights, and the laws in place in Scotland that protect children from all forms of abuse and neglect.
In Scotland, a child is someone who is under the age of eighteen.
Laws in Scotland that protect children and young people ensure that the child’s welfare comes first. In Scotland all children have a right to be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect.
There are various laws in Scotland which are designed to make sure that children are properly protected and cared for. The Police are responsible for enforcing these laws, but all agencies have responsibilities in making sure that the laws aren’t broken.
Physical Punishment of Children
In Scotland, the law protects children and young people from any physical punishment.
Children (Equal Protection from Assault)(Scotland) Act 2019
You should not discipline your child in ways that involve hitting them, or beating them.
It is against our laws to punish children in a dangerous way such as:
• Shaking
• Hitting
• Using something to “punish” children (such as a shoe, belt, slipper)
Child Protection Services will investigate any signs that a child has been physically abused. These dangerous forms of physical punishment are against the law in Scotland.
Children left alone
You should never leave young children alone, not even for a short period of time.
The Police will investigate (and legal action may be taken) if a child is injured or harmed because they have been left alone.
• Always leave your child in the care of an adult you trust.
• You should always make sure that anyone who looks after your child is responsible and that you trust them.
• Never leave your child with a stranger.
Children and Work
In Scotland, children under the age of 13 are not allowed to work. No child under 16 may be employed before 7am or after 7pm.
Children under 16 are not allowed to work more than 2 hours a day on any day, excluding Saturday, when they are allowed to work up to 5 hours (if under 15) or 8 hours (if 15 or over).
Children cannot work during school hours and can only work 1 hour before school begins. It is prohibited for children to work in any industrial places (including factories and building sites) or in any work that is likely to harm their health, wellbeing or education.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) also known as 'female circumcision' or 'cutting' is a crime in Scotland.
The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005 means it is a criminal offence to have female genital mutilation carried out in Scotland or abroad. The maximum penalty for carrying out FGM is 14 years imprisonment.
Female Genital Mutilation is extremely harmful. It can cause long-term mental and physical suffering. It violates human rights and is illegal in Scotland.
Forced Marriage
Forced marriage is illegal in Scotland and is considered to be an abuse of human rights.
The Police will investigate if a crime has been reported where a child or young person has been forced to marry against their wishes.
Children who are forced into marriage or subjected to emotional, physical or sexual abuse as a result, are protected by law and abuse will be investigated by Child Protection Services.
Sexual Activity and Young People
It is an offence in Scotland for adults to have sexual relationships with children under the age of 16. If this is suspected, it must be reported to the Police so that the young person concerned can be properly protected.
“Grooming” is when adults may contact and make friends with a child or young person so that they can sexually abuse them. If you believe that your child or another child is being contacted in this way, get advice and support and always report this to the Police.
Young people have a right to receive Health Education covering healthy romantic relationships, consent and protection. This is recognised by the Education and Health Services in Scotland.
Children and Begging
In Scotland, it is illegal for parents and people who look after children to allow children to beg.
It is a crime to make or allow children under the age of 16 to beg.
Parents may be prosecuted should they allow their children to beg. It is likely that if members of the public see children begging, they will tell the Police.
Your Responsibility
If you are a parent or caregiver, you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of your children.
It is important in Scotland that the conduct of family life is usually left to parents and family members. However, it is equally important that protecting children and young people and keeping them safe and well is a priority for everyone.
If you need to talk to someone about any of the topics that have just been discussed, a list of agencies and their contact details have been shared below.
The Family Information Service provides free, comprehensive information about all
services for children and families in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen City Social Work Reception Team and Out-of-hours Social Work - 0800 7315 520
Emergency services: Police, Fire Service, Ambulance – 999
Police (Non Emergency) - 101
Health Services NHS 24 (open 24 hours) - 111
Childline - 0800 1111
Parentline - 08000 282 233
What is Child Protection?
Child protection means protecting a child from child abuse or neglect. Abuse or neglect need not have taken place; it is sufficient for a risk assessment to have identified a likelihood or risk of significant harm from abuse or neglect. There are many forms of abuse and neglect. In Scotland these are covered in four main areas:
- Physical abuse - Physical abuse is the causing of physical harm to a child or young person. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child they are looking after.
- Emotional abuse - Emotional abuse is persistent emotional neglect or ill treatment that has severe and persistent adverse effects on a child's emotional development. It may involve
- conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve the imposition of age - or developmentally - inappropriate expectations on a child. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger, or exploiting or corrupting children.
- Sexual abuse - Sexual abuse is any act that involves the child in any activity for the sexual gratification of another person, whether or not it is claimed that the child either consented or assented. Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
- Neglect - Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or failure to respond to, a child's basic emotional needs.
Information available below:
- Online Safety
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Treatment for Drug Dependence
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Sex Offender Community Disclosure Scheme
- Disclosure scheme for domestic abuse
- Understanding your child as they grow and develop
- Mind of my Own
- Family member or loved one affected by criminal justice
- Equal Protection Act
- Club 10
Online Safety
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has developed a guide for parents and carers to help answer some of the immediate questions they may have after learning about something that is happening, or has happened, in their child’s online life.
CEOP and the National Crime Agency have created up to date guides for parents and professionals to learn about current social media trends among young people. The guides are written in a simple and effective way that answer common questions adults have about popular apps and highlight potential risks that come with using certain forms of social media.
Samaritans - Online Safety - Guidance on staying safe online, co-designed by young people with lived experience of self-harm and suicidal feelings and experience of supporting others at risk.
Treatment of Drug Dependence - What You Need to Know
NHS Grampian have produced this leaflet to provide information for families and significant others.
Treatment of drug dependence - what you need to know
Child Sexual Exploitation
The National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (formerly the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) works with child protection partners across the UK and overseas to identify the main threats to children and co-ordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account. They protect children from harm online and offline, directly through NCA led operations and in partnership with local and international agencies.
Sex Offender Community Disclosure Scheme
Community disclosure enables parents, carers or guardians of children under 18 years old to make a formal request for the disclosure of information about a named person who may have contact with their child if they are concerned that he or she might be a registered child sexual offender.
Sex Offender Community Disclosure Scheme Leaflet
Family member or loved one affected by criminal justice
If you have questions about a family member or loved one being sent to prison or being released, you can find support via the Families Outside website.
Equal Protection Act
The law on all forms of physical punishment of children in Scotland has changed. On 7 November 2020, all forms of physical punishment of children became against the law in Scotland. Find out more in our Equal Protection Factsheet (PDF).
Frequently asked questions about the new Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019.