Increase of 25% of children in social care in Somerset

Increase of 25% of children in social care in Somerset

The number of children in social care has increased by 25% to 475 since 2009, Somerset County Council has said.

Referrals, where a child is reported due to welfare concerns, have also gone up from 3,500 to 5,500, between 2009-11, and child protection plans have increased by 30% in two years, to 290.

The increase has been blamed on drug and alcohol misuse or parents with "personal difficulties".

Note: Nothing about incompetent babystealers making rash decisions though.