Child abuse up 24%

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Reports of child abuse rose by 24% in 2008, according to statistics from the National Child Protection Council (NCPC).

The NCPC released the findings at a press conference Tuesday.

NCPC chairman Gil Maycock said abuse falls into six categories:

1. Abandonement
   
2. Neglect
   
3. Incest
   
4. Emotional abuse
   
5. Sexual abuse
   
6. Physical abuse
   

Maycock said neglect is by far the largest category, and includes children left alone at night, not fed properly and living in unsanitary conditions.

He said the NCPC expect abuse cases to increase this year, along with the bad economy.

This is especially true of neglect she said, as people work several jobs to make ends meet.