CHILD PROTECTION: Barnardo's calls for priority on abuse

Barnardo's has launched a report, Bitter Legacy, to coincide with the BBC's Hitting Home domestic violence campaign. This calls on the Government to make emotional abuse of children a priority in the fight against abuse.

Alan Coombe, Barnardo's policy adviser, said: "Violence is extremely frightening for children and young people, whether they are victims or witnesses.

It can lead to all sorts of long-term problems, from bed-wetting to self-harming, drug abuse and suicide.

"We would like to see a change to section 17 of the 1989 Children Act to make local authority services and provisions for the emotional needs of young people clearer, and make emotional abuse, as well as physical and sexual abuse, a priority." Coombe added: "Barnardo's also recommends changes in the curriculum to highlight ways of resolving conflict and teaching respect for each other. We need to communicate to young people that domestic violence is not normal behaviour and is not their fault." Specialist advice for young people is at www.bbc.co.uk/hittinghome.