1. Children on the child protection register

At 30 June 2025, 2,021 children were on the child protection register in Northern Ireland, a decrease of 10% since 30 June 2024 (Figure 1). Table 1 sets out the children on the child protection register by age group and Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust at 30 June 2025 and Table 2 shows the trend by HSC Trust between 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025.

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 30 June 2025 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 June 2025)

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 30 June 2025

HSC Trust Under 1 year 1 to 4 years 5 to 11 years 12 to 15 years 16 years and over Total
Belfast 52 83 157 74 13 379
Northern 47 107 171 92 23 440
South Eastern 39 73 143 54 33 342
Southern 46 121 191 108 40 506
Western 39 85 112 89 29 354
Northern Ireland 223 469 774 417 138 2,021

Table 2: Children on the child protection register by Health and Social Care Trust, quarter ending 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025

Select the tab to view count or rate.

2a Count at QE

Figures at quarter ending (QE).
HSC Trust QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24 QE 31 Mar 25 QE 30 Jun 25
Belfast 353 369 390 405 379
Northern 528 567 559 555 440
South Eastern 360 351 350 390 342
Southern 492 493 508 495 506
Western 512 488 476 438 354
Northern Ireland 2,245 2,268 2,283 2,283 2,021

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

Rate is per 10,000 population aged under 18.
HSC Trust QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24 QE 31 Mar 25 QE 30 Jun 25
Belfast 46.6 48.7 51.5 53.5 50.0
Northern 49.1 52.8 52.0 51.6 40.9
South Eastern 43.9 42.8 42.7 47.6 41.7
Southern 50.0 50.1 51.7 50.3 51.5
Western 71.5 68.2 66.5 61.2 49.5
Northern Ireland 51.6 52.1 52.5 52.5 46.5

Table 3: Children on the child protection register by category of abuse and Health and Social Care Trust at 30 June 2025

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] 10 10 10 [s] 33
Neglect and physical abuse 103 100 121 165 19 508
Neglect and sexual abuse 5 0 12 9 19 45
Physical and sexual abuse [s] 6 9 7 [s] 25
Neglect only 152 130 62 114 249 707
Physical abuse only [s] 135 92 161 [s] 487
Sexual abuse only 12 36 13 27 22 110
Emotional abuse only 6 23 23 13 41 106
Total 379 440 342 506 354 2,021

Table 4: Children on the child protection register by duration on the register and Health and Social Care Trust at 30 June 2025

HSC Trust Under 3 months 3 to 6 months 6 months to 1 year 1 to 2 years 2 years or more Total
Belfast 71 91 100 78 39 379
Northern 85 72 139 96 48 440
South Eastern 68 79 81 79 35 342
Southern 129 69 134 132 42 506
Western 81 54 88 103 28 354
Northern Ireland 434 365 542 488 192 2,021

Table 5: Children on the child protection register by legal status at 30 June 2025

Note: [s] indicates figures that have been suppressed to avoid personal disclosure.

Legal status Northern Ireland
Accommodated (article 21) 113
Interim care order (article 57) 42
Care order (article 50 or 59) 22
Deemed care order (paras 11 and 30 of Sch 8) [s]
Interim supervision order (article 57) [s]
Other legal status 44
No legal status 1,799
Total 2,021

2. Child Protection Referrals

At 30 June 2025, 320 child protection referrals were received in Northern Ireland; a decrease of 17.3% since 30 June 2024. Table 6 sets out the child protection referrals received by source of referral by HSC Trust at 30 June 2025 and Tables 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 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Southern HSC Trust data for child protection referrals, for quarter ending December 2023 was revised in February 2024, and for quarter ending September 2024 was revised in February 2025.

Belfast HSC Trust data for child protection referrals, for quarter ending December 2024 was revised in March 2025.

Please also note that Southern HSC data for significant events that subsequently led to child protection investigations, for quarter ending March 2025 was revised in May 2025.

Figure 2: Number of referrals to child protection register received at quarter end (March 2010 to June 2025)

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 30 June 2025

Note: [s] indicates figures that have been suppressed to avoid personal disclosure.
Source of referral Northern Ireland
Police 122
School or EWO 36
Voluntary organisation 0
GP [s]
Social services 30
Community nursing [s]
Relative, neighbour or friend 5
Hospital 20
Self [s]
Anonymous 5
Other source of referral 95
Total 320

The trend data on the number of child protection referrals received between 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025 by HSC Trust are set out in Tables 7a and 7b, and the number of significant events that led to child protection investigations between 30 Jun 2024 and 30 June 2025 are set out in Table 7c.

Tables 7a and b: Child protection referrals received by Health and Social Care Trust quarter ending 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025

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 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24 QE 31 Mar 25 QE 30 Jun 25
Belfast 55 33 56 58 48
Northern 110 125 141 113 65
South Eastern 35 51 53 64 61
Southern 71 62 82 43 50
Western 116 74 106 98 96
Northern Ireland 387 345 438 376 320

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

Rate is per 10,000 population aged under 18.
HSC Trust QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24 QE 31 Mar 25 QE 30 Jun 25
Belfast 7.3 4.4 7.4 7.7 6.3
Northern 10.2 11.6 13.1 10.5 6.0
South Eastern 4.3 6.2 6.5 7.8 7.4
Southern 7.2 6.3 8.3 4.4 5.1
Western 16.2 10.3 14.8 13.7 13.4
Northern Ireland 8.9 7.9 10.1 8.6 7.4

Table 7c: The number of significant events that subsequently led to child protection investigations by Health and Social Care Trust quarter ending 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025

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

Note 2: Please also note that Southern HSC Trust data for quarter ending March 2025 was revised in May 2025.

HSC Trust QE 30 Jun 24 QE 30 Sep 24 QE 31 Dec 24 QE 31 Mar 25 QE 30 Jun 25
Belfast 72 93 123 107 70
Northern 146 120 123 120 116
South Eastern 95 65 78 83 49
Southern 191 115 181 145 142
Western 153 96 115 99 114
Northern Ireland 657 489 620 554 491

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.

Download data as excel tables:
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.

User feedback

We welcome your feedback. If you have any comments on this publication, please contact the Community Information Branch:

Accessibility contact

Please contact Community Information Branch for assistance with accessibility requirements or alternative formats. Contact details are at the top of this page.