This book highlights the problems, dilemmas and challenges facing the child protection agencies in England and Wales and tackles a variety of areas where knowledge on child abuse is either limited or out-of-date. Raising awareness of social, demographic, situational and environmental risk factors that may lead to the harming of children, it also looks at difficult cultural issues that sometimes get in the way of protecting children. Any professional working in, or studying, child protection will find this book an essential read.Reviews current problems and challenges facing professionals involved in child protection, particularly focusing on areas where knowledge on child abuse is limited.Constructing childhood and child abuse The wrong kind of victim? Children, young people and street crime Parental use of alcohol and illicit drugs: A critical review of recent research Making sense of sex offender abuse and the internet Children as victims of crime Child abuse in the religious context-the abuse of trust Learning from mistakes understanding police failure in child protection Talking with children: constructing victim-hood or agency? Child protection from a diverse inner-city primary school perspective Minimising the risk to children and young people- the police response Statutory social work processes involving children: prostitution and other areas of vulnerability Concluding themes