Child Abuse and Protection: Contemporary issues in research, policy and practice

Literature in the child abuse and child protection arena has tended to adopt either a practice or legal perspective. Drawing on their expertise as researchers and leaders in their field, Julia Davison and Antonia Bifulco offer a comprehensive and cohesive book on child abuse and child protection, drawing on both criminological and psychological perspectives on all forms of child maltreatment and child protection practice together with impacts on the victims.

This book considers a range of areas, from definitions of child abuse and discussions of its prevalence, to an examination of the experiences of children in care, to international perspectives on children within the criminal justice system, to the emergence of online child abuse and the increasing awareness of historical abuse. Each chapter draws together key elements in the field, including prevalence and definition, different disciplinary approaches; different practice challenges; international impacts; and technological issues. Brief case studies throughout the book reflect the voice or experience of the child, ensuring that the focus remains on the child at the centre of the abuse.

Balancing coverage of theory and research and considering implications for practice and policy, this book will appeal to a range of disciplines, including criminology, psychology, psychiatry, social work and law.

Julia Davidson is Professor of Criminology at the University of East London and Honorary Professor at the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies, Middlesex University, UK.

Antonia Bifulco is Professor of Lifespan Psychology and Head of the Department of Psychology at Middlesex University, UK. She is Director for the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies at Middlesex University.