Social services chiefs have introduced measures to ensure a swift response to cases of child abuse in Leicestershire.

Police, social services, voluntary groups and health and education authorities are among organisations behind the child protection strategy, a response to new Government guidelines on children in need.

It also comes after a Social Services Inspectorate and Audit Commission joint review of Leicestershire County Council social services, published in March this year, revealed vulnerable youngsters were being left in situations of neglect or domestic violence for too long.

The strategy says the most vulnerable youngsters should be visited within 24 hours of a child abuse allegation being made.

If in immediate danger, a child should be removed to the safe haven of a relative or foster carer, or the abuser should be asked to leave.

Where the problem appears to be less urgent, professionals are expected to meet within 10 working days to discuss how to protect the child from harm.

NSPCC head of child protection training Enid Hendry said the measures would ensure a swifter response to cases of child abuse and neglect.

She said, in the past, there had been no timetable for assessing cases of children in need. "The measures look at how to recognise abuse and what everybody's responsibility is."

Leicester City Council's assistant director of child care, Andrew Bunyan, said the child protection committees would work closely with families involved in child abuse and neglect cases "to find the best solution".

The number of children officially classed as at risk of abuse in the city and county fell this year.

Leicester City Council has 343 children on its child protection register, down from 481 in 1988 and the number on County Hall's register has gone from 180 to 130.

There were 200 boys and 143 girls on Leicester's register at the end of last year - a rate of 45 children per 10,000.

Leicestershire County Council currently has 68 girls and 62 boys on its register, a rate of 9.7 children per 10,000.

Used courtesy of the Leicester Mercury