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Journalism of Courage
A new survey has revealed that children who witness violence at home are more likely to seriously harm someone else.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC),a charity campaigning and working in child protection in England,Wales,Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands,questioned more than 6,000 children,young people and carers,and said it found a clear link between witnessing family violence at a young age and serious behavioural problems in later life.
The charity is now urging adult and childrens services to work together to ensure youngsters needs are addressed when violence is reported in their homes.
It is also asking schools to look out for bad behaviour being a potential indicator of abuse at home.
The NSPCCs research found that children who witness family violence,although not being a direct victim,are four times more likely to carry a weapon or seriously harm someone than children from non-violent homes.
These kids are also three times more likely to be involved in different types of anti-social behaviour and twice as likely to be excluded from school.
The same group of youngsters is three times more likely to take drugs,steal,spray graffiti or bully and twice as likely to get drunk or get into fights.
They are five times more likely to run away from home. It shows a clear link between witnessing family violence at a young age and serious behavioural problems in later life, the Daily Express quoted NSPCC chief executive Andrew Flanagan as saying.
This shows that even if a child hasnt been physically harmed themselves,they can still be hugely impacted by what has happened, he added.
