The Department for Education has updated guidance on the use of reasonable force and screening, searching and confiscation. Issues covered include: what reasonable force is and when it can be used; and searching with and without the pupil’s consent.
Summary: Bulletin presenting Children Order statistical trends for Northern Ireland covering the period from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2011. Trend activity data are detailed in relation to Child Protection and Looked After Children. The bulletin is based on annual Children Order statistical returns provided by Health and Social Care Trusts to the DHSSPS.
Publication details: Belfast: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Northern Ireland, 2012 pp 59
Summary: Bulletin presents Children Order Statistical Tables for Northern Ireland, for the year ending 31 March 2011. Areas covered include child protection, children in need, looked after children and day care provision for children. The bulletin is based on annual Children Order statistical returns provided by Health and Social Care Trusts to the DHSSPS.
Publication details: Belfast: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Northern Ireland, 2012 pp 53
Tackling child sexual exploitation: the government’s new action plan.
Summary: Outlines the Department for Education’s action plan for preventing and reducing child sexual exploitation in England. In particular looks at the role of schools as set out in the action plan, including early signs and indicators and working with the voluntary sector. The action plan can be downloaded at: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/c/tackling%20child%20sexual%20exp loitation%20-%20action%20plan.pdf
Publication details: Protecting Children Update Issue 85, 2012 pp 5-6
Will reporting restrictions mean that abusive teachers go undetected?
Summary: Explains Section 13 of the Education Act 2011 and raises concerns about restrictions on reporting allegations made against teachers. Briefly looks at some of the discussions held in the House of Lords when the Act was still a Bill and suggests that the legislation tilts the bias in favour of the teaching profession when allegations of abuse are made by children.
Publication details: Protecting Children Update Issue 85, 2012 pp 12
Missing children and adults: cross-government strategy announced.
Summary: Summarises key points from the Home Office strategy, ‘Missing children and adults: a cross government strategy’, which aims to get agencies to do more to reduce the number of children going missing and reduce the risk of harm for those that do go missing. Highlights that many children who go missing, particularly as a result of sexual exploitation, do not attend school and are hard to engage with when they do. Suggests that teaching about the risks of running away/going missing needs to be incorporated into the curriculum early on, e.g. in year 6, 7 and 8. Briefly looks at the strategy’s recommendation on working with the voluntary sector and discusses the work of CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre). The full strategy can be downloaded at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/missing-persons-strategy?view=Binary
Publication details: Protecting Children Update Issue 85, 2012 pp 9
Summary: Further analysis and statistical detail on homicide, gun crime and intimate violence in England and Wales for 2010/11. Includes breakdowns for homicides on age and sex of victim, method, circumstance, relationship of victim to principal suspect, and court outcome. Presents the intimate violence findings from the 2010/11 British Crime Survey (BCS) self-completion module on partner abuse, family abuse, sexual assault and stalking.
Publication details: London: Home Office. Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, 2012 pp 118
Summary: Provides an overview of the current state of secure children’s homes in England and Wales. Covers a broad spectrum of issues, including: common problems faced by children who end up in the justice system; the rights of young offenders; the importance of further research into the children’s needs; and the cost of incarcerating children.
Publication details: London: Howard League for Penal Reform, 2012 pp 10
Summary: Guide for black and minority ethnic (BME) women and children, providing information and advice on escaping domestic violence. It contains information on what constitutes abuse, including sexual violence from a spouse, forced marriage, dowry abuse, female genital mutilation, and ‘honour’ based violence. It also provides advice on how to report domestic violence. Also provides advice for women who have entered the UK as a spouse, unmarried partner or civil partner of a British Citizen, or non-citizen who is settled in the UK, and whose relationship has broken down as a result of domestic violence. Includes a list of agencies who are able to provide further help and information.
Publication details: London: Home Office, 2012 pp 15
