A GROUP has been launched to investigate the growing number of vulnerable children whose parents have drink and drug problems, mental health issues or have been victims of domestic abuse.

The Islands Child Protection Committee has set up the working group after noting a growing number of children on the Guernsey and Alderney child protection register living in such family environments.

The committee has also pledged to raise public awareness of child abuse and encourage residents to report any potential cases.

Chairman David Hughes said the newly-formed working group included professionals from different agencies and would explore what action could be taken to address the trend.

‘It is going to start its work early this year. It will look at the impact of these factors and what steps may be taken to improve things,’ he said, adding that the committee’s aim was to get agencies to tackle child abuse and ‘to identify it early and deal with it effectively’.