C hild Neglect and Cruelty
The police and social services will be involved in any case involving child neglect or child cruelty. Defending allegations of child neglect and child cruelty require specialist legal advice from a criminal solicitor with expertise in this area of the law.
Child cruelty is defined as exposing a minor (below the age of 18) to danger, by committing an act or omission – ie not carrying out activities needed to care for or protect a child.
In some cases, social services or the police will have been alerted by a concerned member of the public.
It is vital to seek legal advice as soon as possible, as in the early stages of an investigation – errors and misjudgements can be made, which may affect the outcome of a case at a later stage.
The allegations may involve children being physically abused, not allowed to attend school, confined to the home and not allowed out, made to carry out adult work regularly (with or without payment) or not cared for – for example, children going unwashed, not being provided with a bed to sleep in or a clean home, or being denied adequate clothing, enough food, or access to healthcare.
The law on child neglect and child cruelty is complex and covers neglecting to provide a child with housing, clothing, food or medical care.
In some cases, children may be emotionally neglected – or subjected to extreme physical violence and torture, involving serious or frequent injuries.
An investigation into child neglect or cruelty is likely to involve doctors, teachers and housing officials – and expert witness statements from medical, psychological and forensic experts.
A conviction for child cruelty or neglect may rest on whether there is a history of cruelty or neglect – or whether an incident is a “one-off”.
In some cases there may be injuries which could have been caused, accidentally – or a child may have an underlying and undiagnosed medical problem which makes them vulnerable to injury in the daily course of their life.
At Belgravia Solicitors we aim for the best possible outcome for clients facing charges relating to Child Neglect and Cruelty Offences. We have expertise knowledge in case building based on a sound knowledge of the criminal justice system with an ability to assemble compelling evidence and documentation in criminal cases.
If you, a family member / relative, or a friend are accused of Child Neglect and Cruelty Offences, it is important to seek legal advice. Discussing your case with a specialist lawyer who understands the law on Child Neglect and Cruelty offences at an early stage is essential to help understand what can be done to prepare a proper defence. The sooner you make contact the sooner we can help!
