The use of covert surveillance by stalkers has become more prolific as technology advances and surveillance equipment becomes more accessible. What exactly is available? How easy is it for a stalker to obtain? How can safeguarding professionals respond?Read More →
What age can a young person get a tattoo or body piercing? What is the law around body modification? What are the safeguarding implications? Read More →
The new Clever Never Goes programme, developed by the charity Action Against Abduction, seeks to moves the focus away from strangers and instead teaches children to recognise when someone (anyone) is asking them to go with them.Read More →
The term ‘streetwise’ is often mentioned in missing children cases. It wrongly gives the impression that a child is wise to the risks they may face, and able to get themselves out of dangerous situations. It is mistakenly used to justify a reduced response from safeguarding professionals. This can lead to tragic circumstances. Read More →
There are approximately 130,000 missing incidents involving children each year in the UK. It is impossible for the police and social care to provide the same level of service to every missing and returning child. Proper risk assessment is the key to identifying and responding to those children who are the most vulnerable. Read More →
Breast ironing is an age-old tradition, practiced in certain parts of Africa. The pounding and massaging of a girl’s breasts to delay breast development. In the UK it is child abuse. Read our guide to find out more. 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 →
In the second part of our articles on Honour Based Abuse, we look at the safeguarding response and some of the actions professionals should take when dealing with a victim. Read More →
We take a look at the indicators that help identify whether someone is at risk of forced marriage, and describe some of the preventative safeguarding tactics that can help professionals with those that are vulnerable. Read More →
Following two separate rare convictions for force marriage in May 2018 , we explore why there haven’t been other convictions since the introduction of forced marriage legislation in 2014.Read More →
Cyber bullying and online sexual exploitation are not the only dangers that lurk on the world wide web for children. Here we look at some of the other safeguarding risks that young people may be exposed to.Read More →
Police are the lead agency when a child is reported missing. In this article we take a look at their role and what procedures they should follow to locate a child safely. Read More →
For people with Dementia, walking can be beneficial. In this article we look at how to keep a person safe and provide tips on preventing wandering turning to missing. 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.
Andy Passingham takes a look at the controversial subject of child sex dolls. Whilst there are calls for their outright ban, others have also put forward an argument that they may be useful in the treatment and therapy of paedophiles. Read More →
Each year across the UK, hundreds of children are removed from harmful situations by the police and placed into ‘Police Protection’. We take a look at this valuable tool, which if used responsibly, can be a very valuable tool in safeguarding vulnerable children. Read More →
Abuse linked to a belief in spirit possession is difficult for safeguarding professionals to identify, understand and sometimes accept. It sits outside the norm and there is a danger that they could mistakenly be dismissed as superstitious nonsense. We take a look at the very specific indicators associated with this specific area of child abuse. Read More →
At the start of National Awareness Week, we take a look at calls for a stalkers register, and why the government appear resistant to its introduction. Read More →
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 put forward and argument as to why the guidance that requires local authorities to offer and conduct Independent Return Home Interviews, is not fit for purpose and needs to be reviewed.Read More →
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 →
Here in the UK it is difficult to establish the exact figure due to the secretive nature surrounding FGM. However, it is estimated that around 80,000 females living in the UK have undergone the procedure. Read our guide to find out more.Read More →
We look at the safeguarding implications when a person with Autism goes wandering or missing, the challenges faced by the police and what can be done to reduce the riskRead More →
We explore issues regarding sexting and how it can affect young people. Read More →
Missing People – “the only charity in the UK which is dedicated to bringing missing children and adults back together with their families”.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 the last 5 years we have without doubt seen a significant increase in missing episodes involving people living with dementia. We explore the risks to those people when they go missingRead More →
These days social media accounts and mobile phones are easily accessed by children, in this article we explore cyberbullying, what it is and some tips to help prevent it. Read More →
This article will introduce you to human trafficking, a crime that is intrinsically linked to modern slavery. Whilst not all victims of modern slavery have been trafficked, all trafficking victims have been enslaved. Read More →
In this article we look at online sexual exploitation particularly through the use of online social networking. Read More →
Here we outline the reality and scale of missing children in the UK, we also outline the expectations on all those involved with a child when they go missingRead More →
Here we look at the ‘phenomenon’ that is County Lines, also know as “Going country” we explore what it really isRead More →
We look at ‘Abuse linked to Belief and Faith’ it is probably the least well known and talked about forms of child abuse. It can however, have deadly consequences.Read More →
