YORK residents were today urged to support a major new NSPCC campaign aimed at stopping child abuse killings.

The campaign, which is the latest stage of the Cruelty To Children Must Stop, calls for reform of the child protection system.

It also highlights the fact that, although it is often thought children are most likely to be killed by someone outside their family, in reality, they most often die at the hands of their parents.

Patti Summerfield, the NSPCC's children services manager for York, said: "The number of children being killed each year in this country is a national disgrace.

"Child protection is at a turning point, we need to look closely at the child protection system and see how we can best support families."

Sue Woolmore, the NSPCC's public policy advisor for York, said a recent poll shows that "most people" now believe ending child abuse killings is one of the most important issues for the Government to act upon.

She cited poll results that showed 70 per cent of the people surveyed said the Government should take action on the issue, compared with 15 per cent on going to war with Iraq, or eight per cent who favoured joining the Euro.

Ms Woolmore said: "This poll shows the level of concern people have about the child death toll in this country.

"We hope people in York will give us their support and we are asking NSPCC campaigners to write to their local MP supporting our proposals for child protection reforms."

She said: "There has rightly been a huge groundswell of concern since the terrible killings of Holly Wells, Jessica Chapman and Milly Dowler, and the NSPCC shares that concern.

"Yet people should realise that most children are killed at home by their parents."

The NSPCC's child protection helpline is 0808 800 5000. For more information about the campaign phone the charity's local office on 01904 711002 or go to www.nspcc.org.uk

Updated: 08:39 Monday, October 14, 2002