With a surge in the number of reports being made to the Office of the Children's Registry, the agency is moving to increase its efficiency in tracking data related to child abuse by introducing a case management system and engaging the services of statisticians.

In a JIS News release, Registrar at the Office of the Children's Advocate, Carla Edie, said the statisticians would help the agency analyse data and make projections.

"Based on the information that we get, we will be able to identify trends, what kinds of services are needed to address the issues facing the children and their families."

The employment of statisticians will also be accompanied by the introduction of a case management system, which will organise the reports and updates that the registry receives.

"So if somebody calls to say, 'How many children in the year 2008, between the ages five to six, were sexually abused', very easily, we'll be able to generate that kind of information," she said.

The Office of the Children's Registry has been in existence since January 1, 2007. It was established to receive, record and store data on the maltreatment of Jamaica's children, in keeping with the Child Care and Protection Act.

The Act, passed by Parliament in 2004, places responsibility on Jamaicans to report all types of child abuse, whether it is suspected or already happening. A person can be fined $500,000 or endure six months' imprisonment, or both, for failing to make a report.