​Reporting physical or sexual child abuse and neglect

Child abuse can take many forms: physical, sexual and emotional are the most serious. Anyone who believes that abuse has occurred should report their concerns for follow-up by trained professionals.

What is child abuse and neglect?​

What do I do if I witness or know of physical or sexual abuse or neglect?

You should call the police if:

• You have a reasonable belief that someone has had sexual contact with a child
  
• You reasonably believe a child is being neglected
  
• A child tells you that he or she has been harmed by someone
• You see someone hitting a child with an object
  
• You see suspicious bruises or marks on a child
  

• The child's name, address and age
• Parent information
• The nature of the suspected abuse, what you have seen, what the child has told you, what made you suspect that his child is abused
• What do you know about the alleged abuser:​ name, address, age, the relationship of this person to the child, where or if they work
• Any other information that may help investigators determine whether abuse has occurred.

• Intentionally filing a false report is a crime and you can be prosecuted
  
• A person who in good faith makes a report of alleged child abuse or neglect cannot be held criminally responsible if investigators find no abuse or neglect. All that's needed to make a report is a reasonable belief that a child is being abused or neglected. Members of the general public may make reports without giving their names.