Calls to NSPCC rise after Baby Peter case.

THE number of people placing calls to children's charity helpline the NSPCC in Wales has increased since the death of Baby Peter two years ago.

Last year, almost 4,500 adults from Wales called the 24-hour freephone service, on 0808 800 5000, because they were worried about a child.

The majority of adults calling from Wales had concerns about children being physic-allassaulted, sexually and emotionally abused or badly neglected. Most came from neighbours, relatives and friends of the family.

The number of child abuse calls continues to grow. In June, the NSPCC Helpline referred more than 1,000 calls to agencies - more than one an hour.

Sharon Owen, of the NSPCC Cymru/Wales Helpline, said: "The brutal torture and death of Baby Peter was a wake-up call for some people to look out for children.

"More than one in three of our suspected child protection cases involve families not known to local authorities. Among them there will be children saved by a phone call to our helpline."

The charity's figures have also shown that the number of boys calling the helpline has hit record levels across the UK.

Baby Peter died at his home in Haringey, north London, after suffering more than 50 injuries.

His 27-year-old mother was given an indeterminate sentence with a minimum of five years at the Old Bailey for causing or allowing her son's death.

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Calls to the NSPCC have increased since the death of Baby Peter in 2007