1. Children on the child protection register

At 31 December 2024, 2,283 children were on the child protection register in Northern Ireland, a decrease of 1.2% since 31 December 2023 (Figure 1). Table 1 sets out the children on the child protection register by age group and Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust at 31 December 2024 and Table 2 shows the trend by HSC Trust between 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024.

The number of children on the child protection register by category of abuse, length of time on the register, and legal status by HSC Trust at 31 December 2024 are set out in Table 3, Table 4 and Table 5 respectively. Southern HSC Trust data for quarter ending December 2023 was revised in February 2024.

Figure 1: Children on the child protection register at quarter end (March 2010 to December 2024)

Data can be downloaded as Excel or CSV worksheet from the buttons below:
Figure 1.XLSX (8kB)
Figure 1.CSV (2kB)


Between 31 March 2010 and 30 June 2014 there was a general decrease in the number of children on the child protection register, followed by a gradual increase in figures until 31 December 2018. Since then, the number of children on the child protection register in Northern Ireland has remained relatively stable.

Table 1: Children on the child protection register by age and Health and Social Care Trust at 31 December 2024

HSC Trust Under 1 year 1 to 4 years 5 to 11 years 12 to 15 years 16 years and over Total
Belfast 63 92 148 68 19 390
Northern 49 126 230 125 29 559
South Eastern 32 78 147 71 22 350
Southern 48 110 217 104 29 508
Western 32 102 175 128 39 476
Northern Ireland 224 508 917 496 138 2,283

Table 2: Children on the child protection register by Health and Social Care Trust, quarter ending 31 December 2023 to 31 December 2024

Note: Southern HSC Trust data for quarter ending December 2023 was revised in February 2024.

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2a Count at QE

Figures at quarter ending (QE).
HSC Trust QE 31 Dec 23 QE 31 Mar 24 QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24
Belfast 414 410 353 369 390
Northern 463 502 528 567 559
South Eastern 357 371 360 351 350
Southern 540 508 492 493 508
Western 536 543 512 488 476
Northern Ireland 2,310 2,334 2,245 2,268 2,283

2b Rate (per 10,000 population under 18) at QE

Rate is per 10,000 population aged under 18.
HSC Trust QE 31 Dec 23 QE 31 Mar 24 QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24
Belfast 53.4 54.1 46.6 48.7 51.5
Northern 42.4 46.7 49.1 52.8 52.0
South Eastern 43.7 45.3 43.9 42.8 42.7
Southern 54.3 51.7 50.0 50.1 51.7
Western 73.3 75.9 71.5 68.2 66.5
Northern Ireland 52.4 53.6 51.6 52.1 52.5

Table 3: Children on the child protection register by category of abuse and Health and Social Care Trust at 31 December 2024

Note: [s] indicates figures that have been suppressed to avoid personal disclosure.
Category of abuse Belfast Northern South Eastern Southern Western Northern Ireland
Neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse [s] 5 9 [s] [s] 20
Neglect and physical abuse 157 128 112 145 19 561
Neglect and sexual abuse 8 11 14 9 24 66
Physical and sexual abuse [s] 12 6 [s] [s] 29
Neglect only 122 147 74 107 310 760
Physical abuse only 83 179 81 180 7 530
Sexual abuse only 6 48 14 29 24 121
Emotional abuse only 9 29 40 28 90 196
Total 390 559 350 508 476 2,283

Table 4: Children on the child protection register by duration on the register and Health and Social Care Trust at 31 December 2024

HSC Trust Under 3 months 3 to 6 months 6 months to 1 year 1 to 2 years 2 years or more Total
Belfast 111 58 87 104 30 390
Northern 147 110 168 83 51 559
South Eastern 75 60 108 86 21 350
Southern 123 93 142 119 31 508
Western 94 65 157 116 44 476
Northern Ireland 550 386 662 508 177 2,283

Table 5: Children on the child protection register by legal status at 31 December 2024

Note: [s] indicates figures that have been suppressed to avoid personal disclosure.
Legal status Northern Ireland
Accommodated (article 21) 114
Interim care order (article 57) 58
Care order (article 50 or 59) 18
Deemed care order (paras 11 and 30 of Sch 8) [s]
Interim supervision order (article 57) [s]
Other legal status 49
No legal status 2,041
Total 2,283

2. Child Protection Referrals

At 31 December 2024, 438 child protection referrals were received in Northern Ireland; a decrease of 7.2% since 31 December 2023. Table 6 sets out the child protection referrals received by source of referral by HSC Trust at 31 December 2024 and Table 7a and 7b show the number and rate of child protection referrals and Table 7c shows the number of significant events that led to child protection investigations by HSC Trust from quarter ending 31 December 2023 to 31 December 2024.

Southern HSC Trust data for quarter ending December 2023 was revised in February 2024. Southern HSC Trust data for quarter ending September 2024 was revised in February 2025. Please also note that Belfast HSC Trust data for quarter ending December 2024 was revised in March 2025.

Figure 2: Number of referrals to child protection register received at quarter end (March 2010 to December 2024)

Note 1: Please note that the figure for quarter ending September 2024 was revised in February 2025.

Note 2: Please also note that the figure for quarter ending December 2024 was revised in March 2025.

Data can be downloaded as Excel or CSV worksheet from the buttons below:
Figure 2.XLSX (8kB)
Figure 2.CSV (2kB)


Leading up to 2020, a change in reporting methodology of child protection referrals has meant referrals for children already on the social work caseload are now coded as Significant Event rather than a child protection referral. This has resulted in a series change with a sharp reduction in child protection referrals. The updated reporting methodology has been applied to HSC Trust IT systems at different times; therefore, there is no exact timestamp on the change in series.

Table 6: Child protection referrals by source of referral quarter ending 31 December 2024

Please note figures for quarter ending December 2024 were revised in March 2025.

Note: [s] indicates figures that have been suppressed to avoid personal disclosure.
Source of referral Northern Ireland
Police 124
School or EWO 80
Voluntary org 0
GP [s]
Social services 53
Community nursing 0
Relative, neighbour or friend 17
Hospital 14
Self [s]
Anonymous 19
Other source of referral 125
Total 438

The trend data on the number of child protection referrals received between 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024 by HSC Trust are set out in Tables 7a and 7b, and the number of significant events that led to child protection investigations between 31 Dec 2023 and 31 December 2024 are set out in Table 7c.

Tables 7a and b: Child protection referrals received by Health and Social Care Trust quarter ending 31 December 2023 to 31 December 2024

Note 1: Please note that Southern HSC Trust figures for quarter ending September 2024 were revised in February 2025.

Note 2: Please also note that Belfast HSC Trust figures for quarter ending December 2024 were revised in March 2025.

Select the tab to view count or rate.

7a Count at QE

Figures at quarter ending (QE).
HSC Trust QE 31 Dec 23 QE 31 Mar 24 QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24
Belfast 34 57 55 33 56
Northern 124 102 110 125 141
South Eastern 59 64 35 51 53
Southern 69 70 71 62 82
Western 76 125 116 74 106
Northern Ireland 362 418 387 345 438

7b Rate (per 10,000 population under 18) at QE

Rate is per 10,000 population aged under 18.
HSC Trust QE 31 Dec 23 QE 31 Mar 24 QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24
Belfast 4.4 7.5 7.3 4.4 7.4
Northern 11.3 9.5 10.2 11.6 13.1
South Eastern 7.2 7.8 4.3 6.2 6.5
Southern 6.9 7.1 7.2 6.3 8.3
Western 10.4 17.5 16.2 10.3 14.8
Northern Ireland 8.2 9.6 8.9 7.9 10.1

Table 7c: The number of significant events that subsequently led to child protection investigations by Health and Social Care Trust quarter ending 31 December 2023 to 31 December 2024

Note 1: Please note that Southern HSC Trust data for quarter ending December 2023 was revised in February 2024.

Note 2: Please also note that Southern HSC Trust data for quarter ending September 2024 was revised in February 2025.

HSC Trust QE 31 Dec 23 QE 31 Mar 24 QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24
Belfast 101 65 72 93 123
Northern 117 184 146 120 123
South Eastern 96 88 95 65 78
Southern 179 170 191 115 181
Western 190 148 153 96 115
Northern Ireland 683 655 657 489 620

3. Download data

The data presented in the figures and tables within this publication can be downloaded in excel format by clicking the button below.

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Quarterly Data: 33 KB

Metadata

The statistics presented in these tables derive from children order returns CPR2, CPR3, CPR4 and CPR5 provided by each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts (HSC) in Northern Ireland to the SPPG (Strategic Planning and Performance Group) as well as Community Information Branch within the Department of Health. These returns are part of a wider set of annual Children Order returns which together provide statistical activity counts relating to child protection, children in need, looked after children, and children’s day care. The wider set of returns are used to produce the annual publication Children’s social care statistics in Northern Ireland, which records children’s social care data at 31 March and for year ending 31 March. A technical annex and definitions used in these tables can be found in the above publication.

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