AQW 41605/22-27


Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley


Tabled Date: 27/02/2026
Answered On Date: 06/03/2026
Priority Written: Yes


Question:
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.


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
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 follow up support
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 follow up support
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
Year 21/22 Total Calls 6628
Category
No
Safeguarding
1104
Policy & Procedures
1095
CEET
623
Signposting
611
Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour
488
Potential Physical Abuse
482
Potential Allegations of Staff
323
Digital Safety
287
Potential Neglect
268
Training
254
Potential Domestic Violence
188
Potential Sexual Abuse
167
Potential Mental Health
163
Potential Emotional Abuse
119
Risk Assessment
108
Operation Encompass from Schools
96
Potential Self Harm
96
Potential Suicidal Ideation
86
No School Contact
20
Potential Child Sexual Exploitation
19
Potential Exploitation
11
Potential Forced Marriage
7
Potential Female Genital Mutilation
6
NISTR
6
Covid 19
1
Year 20/21 Total Calls 4765
Category
No
Safeguarding
1162
CEET
629
Signposting
511
Policy & Procedures
462
Potential Physical Abuse
287
Potential Harmful Sexual Behaviour
257
Digital Safety
247
Training
202
Potential Allegations of Staff
199
Potential Neglect
164
Potential Mental Health
129
Potential Sexual Abuse
109
Potential Domestic Violence
101
Potential Emotional Abuse
81
Potential Self Harm
75
Potential Suicidal Ideation
61
Risk Assessment
57
Potential Child Sexual Exploitation
27
Covid 19
3
Potential Exploitation
1
Potential Honour Based Violence
1