Key Takeaways
- The number of violent offences involving an adolescent attacking their parents or step-parents has increased by more than 60% in the past decade in the UK.
- The Metropolitan police recorded 3,091 such offences in the first 10 months of 2025, compared to 1,886 in 2015.
- Experts suggest that the increase in recorded incidents may be due to a combination of factors, including increased awareness of available help, child poverty, and the pressures of the Covid pandemic.
- Child-to-parent violence is considered a hidden and stigmatised form of family violence, with the recorded numbers likely to only hint at the true scale of the problem.
- Studies suggest that abuse towards parents can begin from an early age but typically peaks between the ages of 14 and 16.
Introduction to the Problem
The number of violent offences involving an adolescent attacking their parents or step-parents has increased significantly over the past decade in the UK. According to figures recorded by the Metropolitan police, there were 1,886 such offences recorded in 2015, but this number increased to 3,091 in the first 10 months of 2025. This represents a rise of more than 60% in just ten years. The offences involved a suspect aged between 10 and 17 who had been recorded as being the child or stepchild of the alleged victim.
The Covid Pandemic and Its Impact
The Covid pandemic has had a significant impact on the number of recorded incidents of filial violence. In 2020, when the pandemic hit the UK, there were 2,454 recorded incidents, which was a significant increase from the previous year. Although the numbers have plateaued in the past two years, the pandemic has been cited as a factor in the increase in recorded violence. Experts suggest that the change in structures and routines, as well as the pressures brought about by home schooling and the loss of external help during lockdowns, may have contributed to the surge in violence.
Expert Opinions and Explanations
Jane Atkinson, the chief executive at Capa First Response, a charity that works with families where there is child-to-parent aggression, suggested that the figures reflected the national picture. Her organisation has seen a 90% increase in referrals in the past two years compared to the previous norm. Atkinson cited an increase in awareness of available help as a possible explanation for the rise in recorded incidents. However, she also suggested that other factors, such as child poverty and the perceived failure of parents to live up to expectations, could be fuelling the violence.
The Hidden Nature of the Problem
Child-to-parent violence is considered by experts in the field to be the most hidden and stigmatised form of family violence. The recorded numbers are likely to only hint at the true scale of the problem. Studies suggest that abuse towards parents can begin from an early age but typically peaks between the ages of 14 and 16. A report published in 2021 by the domestic abuse commissioner highlighted studies that indicated more serious physical violence towards parents was likely to sit somewhere between 3% and 5% of families.
The Importance of Awareness and Support
Helen Bonnick, the author of Child to Parent Violence and Abuse: A Practitioner’s Guide to Working with Families, hoped that the new figures were a sign that the stigma about reporting such abuse was fading. She suggested that an increase in bespoke services available means more people are encouraged to reach out for help, and that there is less shame attached to reporting the abuse. However, she also noted that cuts to services such as adolescent mental health and children’s services may have led to a drop in early help and support, which could have contributed to the increase in recorded incidents.
Conclusion and Future Directions
The increase in recorded incidents of filial violence is a concerning trend that requires further research and attention. Experts suggest that a combination of factors, including increased awareness of available help, child poverty, and the pressures of the Covid pandemic, may have contributed to the surge in violence. It is essential to provide support and services to families affected by child-to-parent violence and to work towards reducing the stigma associated with reporting such abuse. By doing so, we can hope to address this hidden and stigmatised form of family violence and provide a safer and more supportive environment for all family members.