What is a Police welfare check on a child?

A police welfare check is a personal visit by police officers to check whether a child is safe, and to ensure the child is not in imminent danger, or at risk from harm.

A police welfare check can be requested by a person with parental responsibility, teachers, social workers, neighbours, or other professionals.

Situations where a police welfare check could be requested include where there is reason to believe a crime has been committed, or there are concerns about adult behaviours that may put a child at risk.

Upon attending at the child’s location, the Police officer will speak with the child and other household members, observe the environment, and assess any immediate risks. Police welfare checks are a last-resort measure, and should only be used when there is a clear and urgent risk to a childs safety.