MORE than 300 cases of child cruelty and neglect have been recorded by Cumbria police in the past two years, according to new figures.

Officers noted 307 offences between April 2015 and March this year, which include young children being left home alone, being assaulted and being left in the care of those under the influence of alcohol.

The force is supporting a national campaign to raise awareness of the role that everyone has to play in protecting children from abuse.

Detective Inspector Jason McKenna said: "We recognise that reporting a suspicion of child abuse or neglect is not an easy thing to do, but if you have a feeling that something isn’t right, it is better to be safe than sorry.

"Anything you may notice may help a child at risk, and could form part of a bigger picture.

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"Every child deserves to be protected and even if you aren’t absolutely certain of what you’ve seen or heard, there are many people you can talk to who will then be able to investigate further."

The initiative, called "Together, we can tackle child abuse", aims to change perceptions and encourage people to raise their concerns, even if they are not absolutely sure of their suspicions.

As part of the campaign, Cumbria police will hold an open forum event on Facebook, allowing the public to have their questions about child abuse and neglect answered by representatives from Cumbria police, children’s services and the NSPCC.

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Det Insp McKenna added: "The Facebook event next week will give everyone an extra opportunity to seek advice from a range of agencies in one place, and I encourage anyone with questions to get in touch."

A spokesman for the NSPCC said: “Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs and is the most common form of child abuse. Neglect can be in many forms, such as physical, emotional or medical neglect, and can involve a child being put in danger or not being protected from other forms of abuse."

How to spot the signs:

Specific changes in a child’s appearance, behaviour and communication can indicate neglect or abuse.

Look for the following changes:

Appearance – such as frequent unexplained injuries, consistently poor hygiene, matted hair, unexplained gifts, or a parent regularly collecting children from school when drunk;

Behaviour - such as demanding or aggressive behaviour, frequent lateness or absence from school, avoiding their own family, misusing drugs or alcohol, or being constantly tired;

Communication – such as sexual or aggressive language, self-harming, becoming secretive and reluctant to share information or being overly obedient.

Anyone who has concerns about the welfare of a child can contact:

- Police on 101;

- Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111;

- NSPCC Helpline on 0800 800 500

- Childline on 0800 1111

- Cumbria LSCB Safeguarding Hub on 0333 240 1727.