Key points

• On 31 July 2025, 2,087 children were on the child protection register, representing a 1% decrease on 2024 (2,111) and a 24% decrease on 2015 (2,741).

• During the year, 3,023 children were registered onto the child protection register, representing a 5% decrease on 2023-24 (3,164) and a 35% decrease on 2014-15 (4,401).
• During 2024-25, 17,336 children were subject of an inter-agency referral discussion in Scotland (rate of 17.0 per 1,000 children 0-17 years).
• Around half (48%) of children added to the child protection register in 2024-25 lived in one of the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland. This compares to 5% in the 20% least deprived areas in Scotland. This is similar to the pattern observed in 2023-24.

• The most common concerns identified at child protection planning meetings for children registered during the year were domestic abuse (44% of children registered), neglect (43% of children registered), parental substance use (38% of children registered), parental mental ill health (38% of children registered), and emotional abuse (32% of children registered). These concerns have remained the most common concerns raised over recent years with domestic abuse being the main concern raised at planning meetings since 2021.
• 3,051 children were de-registered from the child protection register in 2024-25. This is a decrease of 3% compared to 2023-24 and a 33% decrease since 2014-15.
• Of the children being de-registered, almost half (49%) had been on the register for less than 6 months, the same proportion as in the previous year. A further 35% of children had been on the register for between 6 months and a year, compared to 37% in 2023-24.
• During 2024-25, 329 initial and review care and risk management meetings were recorded. The concerns noted most in these meetings were violence (61% of meetings), substance use (39% of meetings), non-violent offences (36% of meetings), unauthorised absences (29% of meetings) and victimisation (26% of meetings).