Children at risk

It is everyone's business to help protect children who may be at risk.

If you know someone who you believe is being harmed please tell us so that we can help them to protect themselves.

If you believe that someone is in urgent need of help to keep them safe please contact the Police on 101 or 999.

Help us keep them safe

Spotting the signs of child abuse and neglect:

• Young children being left on their own
• Children looking dirty or not changing their clothes
• Withdrawn or anxious children
• Aggressive or repeated shouting
• Sounds of hitting, banging or things being smashed
• Children crying for long periods of time
• Relatives denied access to speak with children on the phone or via video call

If you believe a child is at risk, we urge you to call us on:

• 0141 562 8800

• Out of Hours - 0300 343 1505, Glasgow and Partners Social Work Emergency Service

• or alternatively you can call the Police on 101 or 999.

Members of the public will find information here if they wish to know more about how we protect children and young people in West Dunbartonshire.

We recognise that it is not always easy to contact services to report a concern; members of the public should be assured that any referral or information regarding the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person will be listened to very carefully and taken very seriously.

Child Grooming Campaign

Police Scotland has launched a campaign targeting sexual predators who groom children online, with internet use rising during the Coronavirus lockdown.  Further information is available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52271288 and in the video below.