Worrying new figures present a stark wake-up call over increasing cases of child cruelty and neglect in our region, a leading charity boss has said.

Police statistics obtained by the NSPCC reveal cases of a child being neglected, assaulted or mistreated are recorded every 10 hours in the North East, where offences are up 12% on five years ago.

In Durham, instances almost doubled over that time, from 210 in 2017/18 to 395 in 2022/23.

That means every 26 hours an offence of an adult neglecting, mistreating, or assaulting someone under 16 was recorded by the Durham force.

The picture nationwide is like that in Durham with cases more than doubling.

NSPCC CEO Sir Peter Wanless said the figures present a “stark wake-up call” that the system is failing to prevent “horrifying abuse and neglect” and called on the government to accelerate plans for reform.

The figures come after a series of distressing court cases into the deaths of babies and children, including two-year-old Maya Chappell.

The Northern Echo: Maya Chappell.Maya Chappell. (Image: Family handout)

Maya was murdered by her mum’s boyfriend Michael Daymond when he shook her violently at their home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.

The 27-year-old was looking after the toddler while her mother, Dana Carr, went to work.

Maya died two days after paramedics were called to the home without ever regaining consciousness.

Mum Carr was found guilty of allowing Maya’s death and child cruelty.

They will both be sentenced on Friday, December 22.

The Northern Echo: Child killer Michael Daymond, left, with Maya Chappell's mother, Dana Carr, right who allowed her daughter's death.Child killer Michael Daymond, left, with Maya Chappell's mother, Dana Carr, right who allowed her daughter's death. (Image: Newsquest)

A detective who investigated Maya’s murder branded Daymond a ‘coward’ and said: “She was too young to be able to tell anyone of her suffering”.

Data from police forces in Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland showed there were 758 offences recorded in 2017/18, while 848 were recorded in the year to March 2023.

Cases have also risen in Cleveland by 25%.

In the Northumbria force area there was a reassuring fall of 28% from 440 five years ago to 318 this year.

Sir Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, said: “These latest child cruelty figures are a stark wake-up call that our current system is struggling to prevent the horrifying abuse and neglect happening to some of the youngest and most vulnerable in our society.

“The Government has pledged to reform the child protection system to provide earlier support for babies, children and young people and stop families’ problems escalating to crisis point. The figures underline why it is urgent that these changes are delivered at pace alongside significant investment.

“We cannot afford for this to be delayed any longer as there is a real danger we will continue to see these offences spiral upwards if significant change doesn’t happen.

“Through reform and investment, politicians can turn these figures around to ensure babies, children and young people don’t experience the scourge of abuse and neglect and, instead, can live safe, happy and healthy childhoods”.

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An Ushaw Moor mum accused of killing her own son will take place in February. Chirstina Robinson, 29, is charged with murdering three-year-old Dwelaniyah Robinson, and a further charge of child neglect. She denies both charges.

Freedom of information (FOI) requests to 35 forces across England show 29,405 cruelty offences recorded between April 2022 and March 2023 compared to 14,263 between April 2017 and March 2018.

Reported cases of children in the country being subjected to cruelty or neglect rose year on year in that period, according to the children’s charity, which says this is because of the coronavirus pandemic and cost-of-living crisis putting struggling families under “increased strain”.

A Government spokesperson said: “Any instance of child cruelty is abhorrent, and perpetrators will face the full force for the law.

“To transform the support for the most vulnerable children and families, we are working at pace to deliver ambitious and wide-ranging reforms, including introducing new, dedicated multi-agency child protection teams and creating a fostering recruitment and retention programme so foster care is available to more children.

“Spend on children’s social care is now over £10 billion a year and rising, and we have invested £200 million to implement our reforms and help families overcome challenges at the earliest stage and keeping children safe from significant harm.”