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Asked by Michelle

AQW 41605/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 39515/22-27, to detail a statistical breakdown of the number of calls to the Education Authority’s Child Protection Support Service, disaggregated by safeguarding category, for the past five years.

Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 27 February 2026

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
  • Priority
Tabled
27 February 2026
Answer due by
5 March 2026
Answered
6 March 20267 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
Yes

Answer

Please see a breakdown of calls as requested set out below.

Year 24/25 – Total Calls 11,095 includes Operation Encompass follow up support

CategoryNo
Operation Encompass2940
Safeguarding1803
Policy & Procedures964
Performance Licence793
Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour599
Potential Allegation of Staff556
Signposting553
Potential Physical Abuse530
Digital Safety320
Training254
Potential Neglect246
Potential Domestic Abuse164
Risk Assessment146
Potential Mental Health146
Chaperone License132
Employment Permit127
Potential Sexual Abuse113
Potential Suicidal Ideation106
Potential Self Harm106
BOPA101
Police Child Internet Protection Team (PCIPT)90
Potential Drug Related89
Potential Emotional Abuse80
Operation Encompass59
Potential Child Sexual Exploitation56
Potential Exploitation10
Asylum Seekers/ Refugees5
Potential Forced Marriage2
PSNI Cyber Crime Unit2
Potential Female Genital Mutilation1
National Crime Agency (NCA)1
NISTR1

Year 23/24 Total Calls is 9101 includes Operation Encompass follow up support

CategoryNo
Operation Encompass1590
Safeguarding1560
Performance Licences977
Policy & Procedures867
Signposting586
Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour547
Potential Physical Abuse466
Potential Allegations of Staff465
Digital Safety326
Potential Neglect226
Potential Domestic Abuse211
Training176
Potential Mental Health153
Risk Assessment135
Employment Permit114
Potential Drug Related113
Potential Sexual Abuse106
Potential Suicidal Ideation97
Potential Self Harm92
Potential Emotional Abuse78
No School Contact64
Chaperone License45
BOPA40
Police Child Internet Protection Team (PCIPT)29
Potential Child Sexual Exploitation16
Potential Female Genital Mutilation7
Potential Forced Marriage6
Potential Exploitation5
Asylum Seekers/ Refugees2
Potential Physical Abuse1
Potential Mental Health1

Year 22/23 Total Calls 8107 – Operation Encompass follow up support

CategoryNo
Safeguarding1493
Policy & Procedures954
Operation Encompass from PSNI842
CEET814
Signposting643
Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour524
Potential Physical Abuse474
Potential Allegations of Staff394
Potential Neglect298
Digital Safety292
Training229
Potential Domestic Violence206
Operation Encompass from Schools188
Potential Mental Health157
Risk Assessment144
Potential Sexual Abuse109
Potential Emotional Abuse104
Potential Suicidal Ideation104
Potential Self Harm71
No School Contact27
Potential Child Sexual Exploitation25
Potential Exploitation15

Year 21/22 Total Calls 6628

CategoryNo
Safeguarding1104
Policy & Procedures1095
CEET623
Signposting611
Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour488
Potential Physical Abuse482
Potential Allegations of Staff323
Digital Safety287
Potential Neglect268
Training254
Potential Domestic Violence188
Potential Sexual Abuse167
Potential Mental Health163
Potential Emotional Abuse119
Risk Assessment108
Operation Encompass from Schools96
Potential Self Harm96
Potential Suicidal Ideation86
No School Contact20
Potential Child Sexual Exploitation19
Potential Exploitation11
Potential Forced Marriage7
Potential Female Genital Mutilation6
NISTR6
Covid 191

Year 20/21 Total Calls 4765

CategoryNo
Safeguarding1162
CEET629
Signposting511
Policy & Procedures462
Potential Physical Abuse287
Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour257
Digital Safety247
Training202
Potential Allegations of Staff199
Potential Neglect164
Potential Mental Health129
Potential Sexual Abuse109
Potential Domestic Violence101
Potential Emotional Abuse81
Potential Self Harm75
Potential Suicidal Ideation61
Risk Assessment57
Potential Child Sexual Exploitation27
Covid 193
Potential Exploitation1
Potential Honour Based Violence1

Official sources

  • AQW 55074/22-27To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 41605/22-27 to detail the latest data available for the year 2025-2026.
  • AQW 54848/22-27To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the business case to expand the number of Team Teach tutors available for special schools.
  • AQW 54712/22-27To ask the Minister of Education to detail the current status of the business case to expand the number of Team Teach tutors available fo…
  • AQW 54711/22-27To ask the Minister of Education to detail any progress that has been made on the Early Years Northern Ireland Framework for ages 0- 6.
  • AQW 54710/22-27To ask the Minister of Education pursuant to Circular 2025/04, paragraph 15, to detail any actions taken to provide additional staff trai…