Child protection

It's everyone’s responsibility to protect children. If you think a child is being harmed or is at risk of harm, it’s important that you tell us so we can help. Your actions may help us keep a child safe from harm. If you have any concerns about a child, please tell us.

All children and young people have the right to be protected and to be kept safe from harm caused by others. Most children within our communities will grow up in a safe and loving environment. However, some do not. These children may need extra help from adults to make sure that they are kept safe.

View our child protection procedures on our website.

Report your concerns

To make sure the child you are concerned about gets the help they need quickly, phone us:

  • during office hours: 01896 662787
  • out of office hours: 01896 752111

Emergency contact

If you consider a child or young person is in immediate danger, phone the Police on 999 without delay.

Physical punishment of children

The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019 changed the law and removed the ‘reasonable chastisement’ defence from Saturday 7 November 2020.

This means that all forms of physical punishment of children are against the law in Scotland, and children have with the same legal protection from assault as adults.

Further information on the Equal Protection Act is available from the Scottish Government website

Materials for children on the Equal Protection Act are available to download from the Scottish Government website.

Report terrorism and extremism

If you are worried that someone you know might be at risk of getting involved in terrorism, don’t rely on others to report it.

Please report any concerns you have about anyone, adult or child, who you think may be vulnerable to being drawn into extremism.

See our Terrorism, extremism and the Prevent Strategy webpage for more information.

Find your local social work office Read Child Protection procedures

Emergency out of office hours

Address: Council Headquarters
Newtown St. Boswells
Melrose
TD6 0SA

Telephone: 01896 752111