[United Kingdom] HUGE RISE IN CHILDREN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DURING FIRST LOCKDOWN, GOVERNMENT FIGURES SHOW

New government statistics about killed and injured children during lockdown between April and September 2020 show the following statistics:

• 285 serious incidents; 119 deaths, 153 serious harms, 13 other;
• 35.8% of incidents have been suffered by toddlers under one;
• about 2/3 of serious incidents happened to white children;
• 8.4% of children were subject to a child protection plan;
• the majority of the incidents happened while children were living at home or other accommodations (with relatives, semi-independent accommodation, short- and long-term foster care, residential care or hospital). 

As the first lockdown started, children were separated from each other and left stuck and targeted in toxic home environments. Many of them were not only mistreated by abusive family members but outsiders, such as criminals, as well.  They also lost contact with social workers and teachers who they could have received help from, so in current lockdown, social care and school workers are putting more effort in ensuring vulnerable children professionals to access support from. Furthermore, victims from the first lockdown will also receive professional help to heal from trauma.