ON July 12 the UK Government has the chance to update an 80-year-old law to protect more vulnerable children.

The current, antiquated, law – the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 – only covers physical harm against a child and doesn’t recognise emotional or psychological neglect, like ongoing humiliation, refusal to speak to a child or isolation or scapegoating, as a criminal offence.

As a mother, it’s hard to imagine anyone treating their own child this way. Unfortunately, child neglect is the most common form of abuse in the UK – and it’s named as the most common reason for a child to be put on the child protection register or to be made subject to a child protection plan in the UK.

This abuse is out there. And you can help stop it.

Children’s charity, Action for Children, has been working with MP Mark Williams to push forward a change to the criminal law on child neglect, which will see more children being protected from this abuse.

Now, for the first time, the Government can vote to change the law – and we need the support of MPs in your area to make it happen.

By writing to your MP and asking them to vote for the change on July 12, you can help make a difference to a vulnerable child’s life.

I hope you will join me in emailing your MP from actionforchildren.org.uk.

LESLEY SHARPE, Hampshire