Children referred to Scottish Children’s Reporters Administration (SCRA)

Children reported to the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration in Glasgow

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2,640 children and young people were referred to the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) in 2019/20, because some aspect of their life was giving cause for concern. This number was the highest since 2013/14.

In 2019/20, 85% of Glasgow referrals to SCRA were made by the police, with 6% made by Social Work and 4% by Education. In Scotland as a whole, 75% of referrals were made by the police in 2019/20, 15% by Social Work and 5% by Education.

The most common reasons for referral in 2019/20 in Glasgow were 'close connection with a person who has carried out domestic abuse' and 'lack of parental care'.

Notes
The Children’s Hearings System is the care and justice system for Scotland’s children and young people. At the heart of the system are Children’s Reporters, who are based in local communities. Children and young people are referred to the Reporter from a number of sources, including police, social work, education and health. They are referred because some aspect of their life is giving cause for concern.

Children aged 0-15 years can be referred to SCRA as well as young people aged 16 and 17 years who are subject to supervision requirements or are remitted by a court. Referrals are split into two broad categories – care and protection, where the welfare of the child is causing concern, and offence, where the child is believed to have committed an offence. The majority of children are referred on care and protection grounds.  More information on this can be found on the SCRA website.

Schedule 1 offences are against children & young people including sexual assault & abuse or infliction of bodily injury. For more details see Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.