RISING numbers of children on the Scottish child protection register are just the “tip of the iceberg,” a charity warned today. 

The latest Scottish government figures show that, on July 31 2024, 2,129 young people were deemed to be at risk — a 3 per cent increase on a year earlier.

According to the statistics, 48 per cent of those on the register live in the poorest 20 per cent of areas, compared with 3 per cent in the wealthiest 20 per cent, with domestic abuse, parental substance use and mental ill health being the leading concerns. 

While full-year figures show a 2 per c vent fall to 3,167, Children First’s Mary Glasgow warned of a “surge” in those seeking the charity’s support, adding: “These figures are the tip of the iceberg.

“The child protection register captures those children who are at risk and are known to social work, but there are many more who are experiencing harm that are falling through the cracks.

“We need a child protection system which addresses the unprecedented challenges children face today.”

A Scottish government spokesperson responded: “The safety of children is always paramount and our children and young people have the right to be protected from all forms of harm.”