New research published in the British Journal of Social Work suggests that Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASHs) in England have not improved child protection outcomes and may have caused more harm than intended. MASHs are collaborative units that bring together social workers, police, healthcare professionals, and educators to share information and decide whether a child needs protection. The study, led by Andy Bilson, an emeritus professor of social work at the University of Lancashire, is the first national analysis to look at the impact of MASHs on children and families. It found that areas with MASHs saw a significant rise in child protection investigations compared to those without, but no improvement in key outcomes such as the number of Child Protection Plans or a reduction in serious harm or child deaths. The study used data from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to 130 local authorities in England and linked it to national child protection records from 2010 to 2024. These findings challenge the government’s recent push for Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams, which were introduced through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The research shows that while MASHs led to more Section 47 investigations—initial checks to determine if a child is at risk—there was little evidence that these investigations resulted in more Child Protection Plans, which are formal arrangements to support at-risk children. MASHs have been a central part of child protection policy in England for over 15 years. They were created to improve communication and coordination between agencies to better identify and respond to child abuse or neglect. However, the study comes at a time of increasing concern about the growing number of child protection investigations, which have risen significantly in recent years. Despite this, the government has mandated that all local authorities in England must establish Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams by March 2027, regardless of evidence of their effectiveness. The Department for Education (DfE) has also started a consultation on new rules for children’s support and protection, with responses due by September. The study highlights a broader issue in England’s child protection system: new policies are often introduced in response to tragic cases, without proper evaluation of their effectiveness or impact on the wider population. According to Bilson, the research raises serious questions about the government’s push to expand similar models nationally, given the lack of evidence that MASHs have reduced serious harm or child deaths. Bilson emphasized that the rise in investigations linked to MASHs has not led to better identification of children in need of protection. Instead, many families are subjected to intrusive and distressing processes that do not result in formal support. The study argues that MASHs focus too much on identifying risk rather than addressing the root causes of harm, such as poverty, unstable housing, domestic abuse, and mental health challenges. It calls for a shift in focus from surveillance to practical support that helps families and reduces harm to children.