ABUSE and neglect are driving more and more children into the care of the local authority.

Figures in Swindon Borough Council's Children in Care Sufficiency Strategy show that more children are being looked after and a higher proportion of those children have been taken into care because of abuse and neglect, or the risk of such, at home.

In 2015-16 there were 292 children looked after by the council. and 54.5 per cent - 159 - because of abuse or neglect. The total of children in care had jumped to 360 by 2017-18, and the number of those children who had suffered abuse or neglect was 223 - 61.9 per cent of the total.

That's in line with the national indicator proportion for the year of 62 per cent.

family dysfunction or the family in acute stress were the next highest reasons for taking children into care - but the proportions and numbers of children in those categories dropped - from a combined figure of 82 (28.1 per cent) in 2015-16 to 19.23 per cent last year - 69 children.

Absent parenting, on the other hand is on the increase.

In 2015-16 15 children were taken into the care of the council because of it - that was 5.1 per cent of the total. Last year that number had nearly doubled to 27 children- and increased to 7.5 per cent, just above the national indicator of seven per cent.

The figures of children looked after for socially unacceptable behaviour has remained below the national indicator at 1.7 per cent, with the numbers of children coming under council care at five in 2015-16 and six last year.