§ Vera BairdTo ask the Solicitor General how many children were(a) killed and (b) non-accidentally injured while in the care of their parents or carers in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002. [97118]
§ Jacqui SmithI have been asked to reply.
Information detailing the number of children who were killed or suffered non-accidental injury while in the care of their parents or carers in 2001 and 2002 is not held centrally.
However, by revamping its database of serious cases, the Department of Health has a record of serious case notifications from 1 April 2002. A serious case notification concerns the death of, or serious injury to, a child where abuse and/or neglect may have been a factor. As at 11 February 2003, there have been 133 recorded serious case notifications to the database. Of these notifications, 103 were of deaths and 30 were of serious injuries.
Information detailing the number of children under 16-years-old, who are currently recorded as being victims of homicide, a category which covers murder, manslaughter and infanticide, over the last 10 years, classified by relationship of victim to principal suspect. has been placed in the Library.