New Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) Official Statistics 2023/2024
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) has published (20 June) official statistics collected about the Children’s Hearing System’s support for 18,237 children in Scotland between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
The figures show that for this period, 1.1% (10,197) of all children and young people in Scotland were referred to the Children’s Reporter, and that most of these referrals were on the grounds of care and protection.
Of the 478 children with Child Protection Order referrals received in over this period, a high number were for infants. This reflects the high risk for very young children (including newborns), their vulnerability, and their need for immediate protection.
2,701 children aged between 12 and 17 years of age were referred to the Reporter on offence grounds, with the most common types of alleged offences being assault, threatening or abusive behaviour and vandalism.
From 2023/24, 21,613 Children’s Hearings were held, with the review of a Compulsory Supervision Order the most common reason for a Children’s Hearing.