What would social services have to say about Harry Potter?

This article is written through the lens of social care services as it is today and I will not attempt to conjecture what social services were like during the 1980's and 90's (the time period the books are set). I simply do not have enough information or experience to make an accurate analysis of this. In the 2000’s professionals are much more aware of bullying, the indicators of abuse, and have a lot more information at their fingertips, information about children of concern is more widely and easily shared. Having grown up in the 1980’s and 90’s I may comment on the community and social norms of the time but I do not pretend to know anything about social care services during this period.

Education

Long periods of Harry Potter being locked in his cupboard causing him to miss weeks of school would be unlikely to go unnoticed. The school would want a reason for Harry's absence and if it was more than a couple of days, they would likely demand medical evidence for the absence, as not many other excuses would be accepted. I believe attending certain family or religious events are sometimes accepted as absence from school but this is usually something that is pre-agreed. Being in school during the 80's and 90's myself even then they were tightening up on absences due to family holidays - one of the most obvious and common excuses.

Secondly, with Harry having no muggle recognised place of education and Saint Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys, if it existed, having no record of Harry - this would also be a red flag. Although, if Harry was listed as Electively Home Educated (EHE) then the Dursley's would easily be able to explain away Harry's not being in any secondary education setting.

Strange behaviour, such as the incident where Harry gets on to the school roof, this might be considered vandalism or acting out for attention. Either way, this is something that would also be thought of as a serious problem, often those who commit these acts easily slip into other crimes so things like vandalism are dealt with as early as possible.

Bullying, although quite commonplace in the 1980’s and 90’s is now stamped out in UK schools incredibly hard. There have been campaigns and widespread awareness policies and guidance in the past couple of years; including cyberbullying. This would be particularly worrying as the bullying group ringleader is someone that lived in Harry’s own household, his cousin Dudley Dursley. Bullying could also be considered from the perspective of Dudley and his gang intimidating other children off socialising with Harry.

Health

Harry is described as skinny and food deprivation and/or the threat of it (please see psychological abuse) being used as a punishment by the Dursley's; would likely lead to him being undernourished and gaining/losing weight erratically. Harry was also locked in his room or cupboard for long periods which would mean Harry would probably lose muscle mass or muscle definition. This is unless Harry took up working out in his under stairs cupboard (a very limited space) or in Dudley's second bedroom - knowing teenage boys this is also unlikely. This sort of thing is usually cited as an indicator to be aware of when doing safeguarding training, it typically signals abuse. Often there are concerns about sexual abuse when there are drastic drops in weight although this obviously isn't something to include in a children's book.

Harry Potter's space in the home would not be acceptable, although it could be easily masked or lied about to look like Harry actually lived in Dudley's second bedroom. If Harry told authorities that he lived in a cupboard under the stairs when there were spare bedrooms he could use and a bedroom he could share with his cousin (being of similar age and the same gender) - I doubt the authorities would let this rest. But I doubt Harry would want to make his living situation worse by causing the Dursley's to hate him any further than they already do. Or the Dursley’s deciding to punish him for reporting them to the authorities, so concerned as they are with what others think.

Harry Potter seemed to be facing several different types of abuse:

Intimidation

A type of physical abuse - the Dursley’s males all being bigger and stronger than Harry and not afraid to remind Harry of this is definitely intimidation abuse. Any time the Dursley’s raised their voices, screamed, or shouted at Harry could be linked to psychological or intimidation abuse.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is something he suffered at the hands of Dudley Dursley for example, being hit with the Smelting's stick. Dudley practicing his punching from his boxing training would also come under the heading of bullying. Uncle Vernon Dursley was happy to get rough with Harry, grabbing him when Harry was trying to get his Hogwarts letters. Forcing Harry into his cupboard, cutting off all of Harry’s hair, any other time Vernon Dursley man handles Harry would all be considered physically abusive and if those marks were spotted on Harry, he would become a child of concern. Admittedly young boys have a habit of getting cuts, scrapes, and bruises but a black eye or finger marks around the throat are very distinctive wounds that aren't terribly easy to explain away.

Psychological or Emotional Abuse

This is rife in the Dursley household as Harry is a slave for the family, treated like a second-class citizen and the family makes it clear they wish Harry didn’t exist. Harry would also need a serious amount (usually being brave/unafraid) of intimidation or indoctrination in order not to report his horrid conditions to a trusted adult. Also, it is mentioned that the Dursley’s tried to squash the magic out of Harry, keeping him generally downtrodden and miserable. Even Mrs. Figg is aware that the Dursley’s would be unhappy if they found out Harry was enjoying himself. Harry also doesn’t receive any affection, love, or encouragement from anyone in his life; this would normally lead to things like attachment disorders.

Imprisonment

The book mentions several times where Harry is confined for days and even weeks, eventually in the later books, as well as being confined Harry’s door was fitted with a cat flap and his food is pushed through it. Bringing Harry down to the status of a prison inmate in a place, he should be able to feel safe and calm. Harry also feeling he has nowhere else to turn could be considered a type of psychological imprisonment. Adding bars to Harry's bedroom window is a form of actual, literal imprisonment.

Modern Slavery

In the first book, Harry is put in charge of making breakfast for the whole family, this isn’t seen as unusual and although everyone should know how to cook and learn to do it when they are young I doubt someone of 11 or under should be solely in charge of frying up a whole breakfast. Just from a safety point of view, this is worrying on top of the threats if Harry were to burn the breakfast. Plus harry being made to do gardening work all day and being given minimal food would also be thought of as modern slavery and not great for his health either it being an incredibly hot day. Petunia shouting “Up” not “get up Harry” or “are you awake?” also gives a tone of the uncaring loveless way that Harry is treated.

Neglect or acts of omission

Harry is obviously neglected as when the cold soup is pushed through his cat flap, he is desperately hungry for it – he guzzles it down in one go. This suggested that Harry was not receiving a sufficient number of calories in order to sustain him or at least not enough food to make him feel satisfied/full. The Dursley’s also plan to dump Harry at Mrs. Figgs and go have a great day without him, the don’t expect to be getting him food at the zoo. All of this could come under neglect or physical abuse by denying him food or equal treatment.

Financial or Material Abuse

This is evident from Harry never getting a proper birthday or Christmas present and Dudley getting everything and anything he ever wanted. This is discriminatory against Harry, if the Dursley’s were poor enough that they couldn’t afford presents for either child that wouldn’t be looked on so poorly but Harry was the only one treated like a peasant and stain on their glowing family. Plus, Harry never got new clothes he only got hand me downs from his cousin which might not be that unusual other than the fact these clothes didn’t even fit Harry and again his treatment is disproportionate to Dudley. Financial abuse could also come into play as the Dursley parents are openly resentful about how much Harry costs them to look after. Harry is also treated as a lesser citizen when given food he is always given the smallest or least amount compared to the rest of the family.

Conclusion

Looking at Harry and his conditions in these siloed ways may seem too subtle or not significant enough on their own to raise alarm. However, if they were all added together, which would be more possible in the 2000's with advancements of technology and different agencies deciding to have more openness between them. I think these little red flags all added together would definitely paint a disturbing picture. I feel that in the 2000's Harry might well have become a child of interest especially if in a school and/or having a community that was diligent in reporting things to their relevant services. Families like this would be sent to parenting classes, Harry might be monitored or receive counselling at school for any separation or development disorders he might develop.