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In the UK each year a small minority of children are ‘locked up’ in Secure Children’s Homes. But what does this actually mean for the child and what are the processes in place to safeguard their welfare?
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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 →
Is labia stretching a form of FGM? What are the views of the World Health Organisation? Is it against the law?Read More →
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 →
February 2019 – Momo fever gripped the UK. A few days later it was declared Fake News by several leading charities. Was it real or an elaborate hoax? Read More →
The NCA have produced their latest assessment into county lines drug supplies. Find out more here.
Is it lawful to prevent a child from leaving a care or foster home? Can anything be done if you believe that they might come to harm? Read More →
Chatbots used in the protection of children and vulnerable adults. What are they, what can they do? Are there any pitfalls and will they bring anything of value to the safeguarding arena?
The number of children taken into local authority care has risen by 24% in the last decade. A lack of Foster Carers means that many children are placed in residential homes. For a care home, safeguarding the children in their care should be their primary objective. 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 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 →
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.
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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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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.
We explore issues regarding sexting and how it can affect young people. Read More →
