Child abuse complaints jump by 30 per cent

The number of suspected child abuse cases continues to rise, with 30 per cent more complaints being reported to Child Youth and Family in a year.

By November 30, notifications had reached 20,845 notifications compared with 16,039 for the same period last year.

In June, the Herald reported the number of notifications had also risen by 30 per cent over the period 12 months earlier. The department at the time said it could not explain the exact reasons for the increase, saying it was not clear if the figures reflected more abuse or a greater awareness of CYF services.

Yesterday, at a social services select committee meeting, the department said it had received around 29 per cent more notifications this year than it expected.

Act deputy leader Muriel Newman said the increase in notifications was a failure.

Child, Youth and Family Minister Ruth Dyson said people should not be too quick to say the increase was a failure, as it could reflect a reduced tolerance for child abuse in the community.

CYF said it had increased productivity by 11 per cent over the past year, which allowed it to investigate 5500 more cases than it would have been able to had productivity remained at last year's levels.

The department said it had faced a challenges in the past year, including the exponential increase in notifications, organisation and structural change and having three chief executives in the past year (Canadian Paula Tyler began in August).

Green MP Sue Bradford asked the department if it had improved its recording system after Ron Burrows' call to the national call centre in Auckland was not logged.

Mr Burrows made his call nine months before his daughter, 6-year-old Coral-Ellen, was murdered by her stepfather, Steve Williams.

The department said after technical difficulties the recording system should be in place early in the New Year.