The number of parents prosecuted for child cruelty or neglect has doubled to almost 17,000 in the past five years amid concerns over rising drug and alcohol misuse and mental ill health, police figures reveal today.

The data, released by the NSPCC, showed there were 16,939 cases of parents deliberately neglecting, mistreating or assaulting their children in 2017-18, up from 7,965 in 2012-13.

It mirrors the number of calls made to the NSPCC’s helpline – which totalled 19,937 last year about children suffering neglect – with three quarters referred to police or children’s services.

The NSPCC said calls to their helpline suggested rising problems with alcoholism and drug addiction, parents suffering from mental ill health and families lacking the skills, support or funds to meet their child’s needs could be to blame for the increase.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: “Greater public awareness and improvements in how police record offences could also be factors, along with deeper societal issues.”