Decrease in number of children on child protection register
Date published:
Topics:
Health and social care
New accredited official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Health present child protection data for Northern Ireland for the quarter ending 30 September 2025.
Key findings
Children on the child protection register:
- At 30 September 2025, 2,073 children were on the child protection register in Northern Ireland – a decrease of 8.6% compared to 30 September 2024 (2,268 children).
- The most common categories of abuse were neglect only (702 children), neglect and physical abuse (530 children), and physical abuse only (502 children).
- By age group, children aged 5 to 11 years represented the largest group on the register (797 children), followed by children aged 1 to 4 years (464 children).
Child protection referrals:
- During July to September 2025, 334 child protection referrals were received in Northern Ireland – a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same quarter in 2024 (345 referrals).
- The most common source of referrals was the police (132 referrals).
- 492 significant events subsequently led to child protection investigations during the quarter.
About the publication
The quarterly child protection statistics provide information on children on the child protection register and child protection referrals across Northern Ireland's five Health and Social Care Trusts. The full report includes:
- Breakdowns by age group, HSC Trust, category of abuse, length of time on the register, and legal status
- Trend data from March 2010 to September 2025
- Details on sources of child protection referrals
- Information on significant events leading to child protection investigations
Further Information
Read the full report: Quarterly Child Protection Statistics For Northern Ireland (September 2025)
View data tables: Quarterly Child Protection Statistics For Northern Ireland July - September 2025