CHILD neglect is under the spotlight as part of North Yorkshire Police's Safeguarding Week.

Each day this week the force is focusing on a specific area of safeguarding to raise public awareness about the particular dangers facing youngsters and vulnerable people.

Last year North Yorkshire Police made 63 arrests in relation to child neglect offences and there are currently several ongoing, live investigations.

Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic needs, leaving a child unsupervised for long periods of time or without medical attention if needed.

Neglect also leaves already vulnerable children open to other forms of abuse and exploitation.

DI Shaun Page of the force's Vulnerability Assessment Team said: “Child neglect is sadly something that we do deal with on a regular basis in North Yorkshire. It is not a problem that is solely found in disadvantaged areas.

“Cases of child neglect are never straight forward and often we find other problems in the family unit, such as domestic abuse, drug abuse and alcoholism."

He added: “The nature of the crime means that the neglect is usually hidden behind closed doors. "However, if members of the public are aware of some of the tell-tale signs and are able to spot them and make a report to police, it enables us reach out to the children and families who so desperately need our help."