児童虐待被害、最多２２１９人　コロナで潜在化懸念―昨年、５４人死亡・警察庁

　昨年１年間に警察が検挙した児童虐待は前年比１．９％増の２１７４件、被害に遭った１８歳未満の子どもは同２．２％増の２２１９人で、いずれも過去最多を更新したことが１０日、警察庁のまとめで分かった。無理心中を含め、死亡した子どもは５４人に上った。
　社会的関心の高まりや児童相談所（児相）との連携強化で警察が把握する虐待事案は増えているが、増加ペースは鈍化している。新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大に伴う自粛生活で、被害が潜在化している懸念もあり、同庁は情報収集を強化している。（2022/03/10-10:08）

The number of child abuse victims, aged under 18, recognized by Japanese police in 2021 hit a record high of 2,219, up 2.2 pct from the previous year, a National Police Agency survey report showed Thursday.
   The number of child abuse cases detected by police climbed 1.9 pct to 2,174, also a record high, according to the survey report. The number of children who died after being abused came to 54.
   Although the number of child abuse cases recognized by police has been increasing reflecting heightened public concern and strengthened cooperation between police and child counseling centers, the pace of growth in such cases has slowed.
   The agency is boosting efforts to identify potential cases of abuse as they are feared to have increased due to authorities' stay-home requests amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
   Of the 54 children who died, 15 were physically abused, three faced neglect and 29 died in murder-suicide cases. Seven were killed soon after birth or in other situations.