Missing Children – the law
2018-10-16
Can the police search addresses for missing children? What powers do police have to return missing children safely home? Can they use force? What exactly is the law around missing children? Read More →
Gone cunch – what does it all mean?
2018-10-11
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 →
Child Care Orders – a simple guide
2018-10-04
There are numerous pieces of legislation, both civil and criminal which deal with the protection of children. This article looks at the various court orders that can assist us in our safeguarding role. Read More →
Online safeguarding news update – September 2018
2018-10-03
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for September, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Parental Child Abduction
2018-10-03
A father takes his child out of the UK without the permission of the mother and refuses to return. Parental Child Abduction is more common than you think. What can the mother do? What is the law? Who can help? Read More →
Missing Children – Risk Management
2018-09-25
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 →
Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWN’s)
2018-09-15
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 →
Online safeguarding news update – August 2018
2018-09-12
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for August, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Suicide – The Dangers of the Internet
2018-09-11
You can find anything on the world wide web. For most it is a place of joy, entertainment and education. Sadly, for those people contemplating taking their own lives, there are also websites and other platforms which exploit the vulnerable. We take a look at pro-suicide platforms.Read More →
Modern Slavery – the trade in children
2018-08-30
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 →
Non-parental Child Abduction
2018-08-29
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 →
Breast Ironing – a guide
2018-08-23
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 →
Female Genital Mutilation – Operation Limelight
2018-08-21
Operation Limelight is a multi-agency proactive operation that periodically takes place at various ports in the UK, to tackle Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The emphasis is on prevention, detection and awareness.Read More →
Modern Slavery – spot the signs
2018-08-21
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 →
Momo – real or fake?
2018-08-15
An examination of the WhatsApp associated suicide game – Momo. Is it real and how big a threat does it pose to vulnerable people?
Modern Slavery – an introduction
2018-08-14
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 →
Honour Based Abuse – a safeguarding response
2018-08-12
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 →
Human Trafficking – First Contact
2018-08-10
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 →
Honour Based Abuse – The Facts
2018-08-09
In the first of two articles, we look at Honour Based Abuse. What it is, who it affects, the crime types and some of the indicators that might help safeguarding professionals spot the signs.
Read More →
Online safeguarding news update – July 2018
2018-08-07
Excerpt
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for July, in easy to read bitesize news segments.
Online Safety – Know your Bot from your Phish
2018-07-13
What the difference between Trojans and Worms? What is Catfishing? What are the dangers of a young person using an avatar? What does the PEGI rating mean? If you are responsible for safeguarding children and young people, but don’t quite understand the everyday language of the internet, then read this simple guide explaining the basics. Read More →
Young People and drugs – an evolving landscape
2018-07-10
In the last few years the drugs landscape for young people has changed. Whilst cannabis is still the drug of choice, there has been a move towards “Legal Highs”, illegally purchased prescription only medication and powerful synthetic drugs. The availability of drugs on the internet has also had a significant impact. We look at some of those changes and some of the new drugs of choice. Read More →
Doki Doki Literature Club – A Coroner’s Warning
2018-07-06
We take a look at the online game that has prompted a UK Coroner to issue a warning about the psychological impact the game may have on young people.Read More →
Online safeguarding news update – June 2018
2018-07-05
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for June, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Gangs – A Safeguarding Response
2018-07-02
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 →
Forced Marriage – signs and tactics
2018-06-25
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 →
Abuse linked to Belief or Faith – What you can do
2018-06-21
In our third article examining ‘abuse linked to belief or faith’, we take a look at actions that must be taken when a safeguarding concern is identified , and emphasise the need to act quickly to ensure the “one chance rule” is not missed. Read More →
Dementia -The Herbert Protocol
2018-06-14
We take a look at The Herbert Protocol, a simple risk reduction tool to be used in the event that an adult with care and support is reported missing. It is widely associated with people living with dementia who go missing, providing police with vital information to enhance the chances of locating a person quickly and safely. Read More →
Forced Marriage – Why is the conviction rate so poor?
2018-06-13
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 →
Online safeguarding news update – May 2018
2018-06-05
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for May, in easy to read bitesize news segments.
Bullying, sexting and sexual exploitation are not the only online dangers!
2018-05-31
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 →
Fortnite Battle Royale – Safe or dangerous?
2018-05-28
It’s a phenomenon. Millions upon millions of players worldwide. A free to play online shoot-‘em-up survival game with lots of bad guys to kill. But, who are your children playing with and what are the hidden dangers within ‘Fortnite Battle Royale’?Read More →
Missing Children – The role of the Police
2018-05-25
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 →
Dementia – Reducing the risk of harm from ‘Wandering’
2018-05-20
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 →
Even residential care for children have “rogue traders”
2018-05-18
A look at the recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) interim report, which states that those working in children’s homes in England, should be required to register, in the same way that social workers have to. Read More →
County Lines – Get a step ahead by improving your knowledge
2018-05-15
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.
Online safeguarding news update – April 2018
2018-05-11
Catch up with the online safeguarding news stories for April, in easy to read bitesize news segments.
Child Sex Dolls – what’s your view?
2018-05-05
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 →
Online safeguarding quarterly news update – January to March.
2018-04-26
Catch up with the last 3 months (January to March 2018) online safeguarding stories and risks, in easy to read bitesize news segments. Read More →
Police Protection – A practical guide
2018-04-21
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 Belief or Faith – The Indicators
2018-04-18
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 →
Stalking – Do we need a Stalkers Register?
2018-04-15
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 →
Gang Involvement – Spotting the signs
2018-04-05
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 →
Independent Return Home Interviews for Missing Children – a broken system.
2018-03-28
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 →
The NRM – can the system cope with UK criminally & sexually exploited children?
2018-03-24
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 →
Child Sexual Exploitation – Factsheet 3 (What You Can Do)
2018-03-16
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.
Child Sexual Exploitation – Factsheet 2 (The Indicators)
2018-03-13
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 →
Child Sexual Exploitation – Factsheet 1 (an insight into CSE)
2018-03-10
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 →
Fact Sheet – Mental health problems likely to affect some students
2018-03-01
Mental health issues amongst university and college students have significantly increased in the last decade. Read our useful fact sheet which identifies and explains, some common mental health problems that could affect those facing the pressures of higher education.Read More →
Young People at Risk of Gang Involvement – More than just a statistic.
2018-02-28
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.