More reports of misconduct in childcare, physical violence reported the most

Last year, the school inspectorate's confidential inspectors reviewed 271 files compiled in response to reports of possible misconduct in childcare. In particular, this involved allegations of physical and psychological violence, sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination.

In 2022, 38 fewer files were counted. Last year, there were 32 cases of suspected sexual abuse, 54 cases of possible sexual harassment, 44 cases of suspected psychological violence, 139 cases of possible physical violence (including 56 cases related to abuse), and two cases of suspected discrimination.

Childcare workers who suspect or know of sexual abuse, harassment, or violence are obliged to report it. The Inspectorate does not track which reports are actually classified as criminal offenses.

The largest increase in 2023 is again in reports of physical violence. "We are not only seeing an increase in reports in childcare. The upward trend is also continuing in the education sector," the supervisory authority wrote in an earlier report. In the reported situations in education, the violence appears to be more serious, and the perpetrators of violence are younger," the supervisory authority noted.

After reports of sexual abuse and assault, the majority of cases were referred to the police.