AQW 41225/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 40718/22-27, to detail the number of calls received by the Education Authority's Child Protection Support Service, broken down by safeguarding concern, in each of the last three years.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 23 February 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 23 February 2026
- Answer due by
- 10 March 2026
- Answered
- 6 March 202611 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Please see a breakdown of calls as requested set out below.
Year 24.25 – Total Calls 11,095 includes Operation Encompass
| Category | No |
| Operation Encompass | 2940 |
| Safeguarding | 1803 |
| Policy & Procedures | 964 |
| Performance Licence | 793 |
| Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour | 599 |
| Potential Allegation of Staff | 556 |
| Signposting | 553 |
| Potential Physical Abuse | 530 |
| Digital Safety | 320 |
| Training | 254 |
| Potential Neglect | 246 |
| Potential Domestic Abuse | 164 |
| Risk Assessment | 146 |
| Potential Mental Health | 146 |
| Chaperone License | 132 |
| Employment Permit | 127 |
| Potential Sexual Abuse | 113 |
| Potential Suicidal Ideation | 106 |
| Potential Self Harm | 106 |
| BOPA | 101 |
| Police Child Internet Protection Team (PCIPT) | 90 |
| Potential Drug Related | 89 |
| Potential Emotional Abuse | 80 |
| Operation Encompass | 59 |
| Potential Child Sexual Exploitation | 56 |
| Potential Exploitation | 10 |
| Asylum Seekers/ Refugees | 5 |
| Potential Forced Marriage | 2 |
| PSNI Cyber Crime Unit | 2 |
| Potential Female Genital Mutilation | 1 |
| National Crime Agency (NCA) | 1 |
| NISTR | 1 |
Year 23.24 Total Calls is 9101 includes Operation Encompass
| Category | No |
| Operation Encompass | 1590 |
| Safeguarding | 1560 |
| Performance Licences | 977 |
| Policy & Procedures | 867 |
| Signposting | 586 |
| Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour | 547 |
| Potential Physical Abuse | 466 |
| Potential Allegations of Staff | 465 |
| Digital Safety | 326 |
| Potential Neglect | 226 |
| Potential Domestic Abuse | 211 |
| Training | 176 |
| Potential Mental Health | 153 |
| Risk Assessment | 135 |
| Employment Permit | 114 |
| Potential Drug Related | 113 |
| Potential Sexual Abuse | 106 |
| Potential Suicidal Ideation | 97 |
| Potential Self Harm | 92 |
| Potential Emotional Abuse | 78 |
| No School Contact | 64 |
| Chaperone License | 45 |
| BOPA | 40 |
| Police Child Internet Protection Team (PCIPT) | 29 |
| Potential Child Sexual Exploitation | 16 |
| Potential Female Genital Mutilation | 7 |
| Potential Forced Marriage | 6 |
| Potential Exploitation | 5 |
| Asylum Seekers/ Refugees | 2 |
| Potential Physical Abuse | 1 |
| Potential Mental Health | 1 |
Year 22.23 Total Calls 8107 – Operation Encompass below
| Category | No |
| Safeguarding | 1493 |
| Policy & Procedures | 954 |
| Operation Encompass from PSNI | 842 |
| CEET | 814 |
| Signposting | 643 |
| Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour | 524 |
| Potential Physical Abuse | 474 |
| Potential Allegations of Staff | 394 |
| Potential Neglect | 298 |
| Digital Safety | 292 |
| Training | 229 |
| Potential Domestic Violence | 206 |
| Operation Encompass from Schools | 188 |
| Potential Mental Health | 157 |
| Risk Assessment | 144 |
| Potential Sexual Abuse | 109 |
| Potential Emotional Abuse | 104 |
| Potential Suicidal Ideation | 104 |
| Potential Self Harm | 71 |
| No School Contact | 27 |
| Potential Child Sexual Exploitation | 25 |
| Potential Exploitation | 15 |