Children who are looked after should be accommodated in care provision that meets their needs and is in their best interest. Does placing a child many miles away from their home area weaken safeguarding measures? What are the correct procedures? Read More →
The NCA have produced their latest assessment into county lines drug supplies. Find out more here.
Emojis are now part of everyday life, but used in the wrong way and by someone with malicious or exploitative intentions, they can be become threatening, coercive and harmful.Read More →
In March 2015, section 69 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 closed a gap in the law by making the possession of a paedophile manual illegal. Find out more.
The public have a key role to play in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. We need to find new ways of empowering and encouraging the public to report their concerns. We take a look at three smartphone apps that do just that. Read More →
When dealing with a vulnerable child or adult, safeguarding practitioners will create and update numerous documents. If the investigation leads to a criminal case, what information is recorded about the victim could well be disclosed to the accused. What professionals write about the victim is important and we should avoid ‘victim blaming language’. Read More →
Imagine a place where children who have been sexually abused can receive the response that they need, under the one roof. A place where all the safeguarding agencies work together, not only to ensure the welfare of the child, but also secure evidence the best evidence to bring perpetrators to justice. That is ‘Barnahus’, the Icelandic model being introduced into the UK. Read More →
Significant increases in the number of children being groomed online has led to the rise of self-styled ‘paedophile hunters’. Members of the public who take it upon themselves to act as child decoys online, arranging to meet and then publicly confronting the abuser. Many of these confrontations have ended in serious incidents. So, are paedophile hunters’ lawless vigilantes, or safeguarding angels? Read More →
Updated guidance and resources from the home office. Includes posters for different sectorsRead More →
Hotel and B&B rooms are often used to groom and abuse young people. Those that work in the hotel business have a responsibility to safeguard and prevent the sexual exploitation of children. MakeSafe is an initiative that equips hoteliers with the necessary skills to spot potential signs of exploitation and take preventative action. Read More →
Street slang has evolved into an extensive vocabulary, a combination of slang words and phrases, supplemented by texting jargon, hashtags and emojis. We ask how safeguarding professionals can understand street slang. Read More →
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for September, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Many missing children are harboured by adults when missing. We take a look at Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWNS), what they are used for, the processes involved and the law if they are breached. Read More →
The reasons adults and children are trafficked into, or within the UK are many. There are however, some distinct areas where children are more lucrative to the trafficker or slave master. Find out more. Read More →
Missing and vulnerable children often gravitate to a ‘friendly’ address in their area. Some are safe, many are not. Find out what the law says, when a person persistently ignores requests and warnings by the authorities not to harbour a child. Read More →
Modern slavery is in plain sight in the UK, but we often don’t realise it is there. We take a look at some of the areas that may indicate someone is a victim – accommodation, working conditions, appearance and behaviours. Read More →
Modern slavery is prevalent in the UK. Safeguarding Hub examines what modern slavery is and looks at the various types, from organ harvesting to sexual exploitation. Read More →
Safeguarding Hub look at first contact with a victim of human trafficking, the actions safeguarding professionals should consider and the law around trafficking. Read More →
How do we divert children away from gang involvement? What is an Osman warning? How do gang injunctions work? We take a look at some of the methods available to safeguarding professionals, that may help divert young people away from gang involvement. Read More →
In the third and final part of our County Lines drug supply familiarisation articles, we look at what you can do to identify the issues and some tactics around prevention, and how the law applies to children.
We identify some indicators that point to a child’s involvement in gangs and also take a look at those young people that are more likely to be at risk of being drawn into gang culture. Read More →
We take a look at the changes to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) process and ask whether they go far enough to safeguard children who are trafficked internally in the UK through sexual and criminal exploitation. Plus, we include a practical guide for safeguarding professionals on the NRM process. Read More →
In the last of our child sexual exploitation factsheets for safeguarding professionals we take a look at the actions that should be taken when dealing with a young person at risk of CSE, and also provide some tactics and options that are at our disposal.
National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day on 18th March. In the second of our factsheets for safeguarding professionals we look at the indicators that might suggest CSE is taking place , those that are likely to be more at risk, and also take a look at ‘hot spot’ CSE locations. Read More →
As we approach National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day on 18th March, we produce the first of three practical factsheets for safeguarding professionals. Part 1 looks at the methods used by perpetrators, risk levels and the law. Read More →
Whilst overall crime has reduced in the last few years, violent, gun and knife related offences have risen significantly. Youth and gang related violence, together with county lines , have become priorities for many local safeguarding agencies. We look at what a gang is, the structure of a gang, and the dangers children and young people face by being drawn into gang culture and membership.
In light of the recent conviction of Matthew Falder, Andy Passingham takes a look at the NSPCC review “10 years since the Byron report” and asks; are the government doing enough to protect children online?Read More →
It is estimated that currently worldwide there are 2.2 million apps available to iPhone and 2.8 million to Android devices. We’ve put together a guide to help you understand the risks involved with some of the most well used.Read More →
We explore issues regarding sexting and how it can affect young people. Read More →
In this article we look at how young people are recruited to deal drugs, the types of children who are vulnerable and the dangers they face once involved.Read More →
In this article we look at online sexual exploitation particularly through the use of online social networking. Read More →
Here we look at the ‘phenomenon’ that is County Lines, also know as “Going country” we explore what it really isRead More →
