Advice for family and friends

We all have a role to play in protecting children and young people from child abuse and neglect, but research shows that currently a third of people who suspect child abuse don’t act on their suspicions.

If you are concerned that a child is being harmed, you must not keep these concerns to yourself. Contact us and we will make sure you speak to a suitable person. We will listen to and record your concerns and take the appropriate action.

We have a dedicated freephone number and an online form for you to use to share information of any concerns you have about a child or young person within the Bradford District.

How to contact us.

During office hours  - Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm 

• Call us on our freephone number - 0800 9530966
• Use our online forms through the 

Report a concern about a child (public) 

The Children’s Portal is our online system that allows members of the public to share any concerns they have about a child by completing a secure form.   You do not need to leave your details.

If you are looking for information and advice please visit our Home | Bradford Families and Young Persons (FYI) Directory.

Outside office hours

Call our Emergency Duty team 01274 431010

The Emergency Duty Team (for emergencies outside of office hours) will make an assessment, on the telephone, of any immediate need or risk and take appropriate action to ensure that child or young person is safe until the next working day.

Police

If you have reason to believe that a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police on 101 or 999 for emergencies

Many children who go missing stay with friends or family members, but there are some who do not have or don’t access these support systems, or who are forced to stay in environments that are harmful to their safety and well-being, and so end up engaging in activities that may put them at risk.

What to do if you think someone is missing or has run away
Every situation is different and there are no set rules about when a child should be considered missing; however if you are concerned about a very young child you should contact the emergency services immediately.

For young people, if you have any doubts about whether to formally report them missing, for example, when a teenager fails to return home after a time they have agreed, contact the police. There is no time limit on when you can make a report. You don’t have to wait 24 hours.

If your child is missing or has run away from home, you must contact the Police.

For further information visit our missing from home or care page.

The warning signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect can vary from child to child. Disabled children may be especially vulnerable to abuse, because they may have an impaired capacity to resist or avoid abuse. They may have speech, language and communication needs which may make it difficult to tell others what is happening.

By understanding the warning signs, you can respond to problems as early as possible. It is important to recognise that a warning sign doesn’t automatically mean a child is being abused. There are several signs of child abuse or neglect which people can look out for:

• Appearance – such as frequent unexplained injuries, constant poor hygiene, matted hair, unexplained gifts, or a parent regularly collecting children from school when drunk.
• Behaviour – such as demanding or aggressive behaviour, frequent lateness or absence from school, avoiding their own family, misusing drugs or alcohol, or being constantly tired.
• Communication – such as sexual or aggressive language, self-harming, becoming secretive and reluctant to share information or being overly obedient.

For further information about reporting abuse please visit our report abuse page.