| Ten people have been arrested and a further 112 are being investigated following the break up of an online child sexual abuse image network by Italian police. The group, which spanned at least 28 countries, used social media to swap images and videos of child abuse. |
| Source: Guardian 08 March 2012 |
Category Archives: News
The Home Office has launched a campaign aimed at preventing teenage rape
| The Home Office has launched a campaign aimed at preventing teenage rape. The campaign is targeted at 13-18 year olds and aims to: raise awareness, improve understanding of what constitutes rape, sexual assault and consent, and empower young people to avoid, challenge and report sexually violent behaviour. |
| Source: Home Office Press Release 05 March 2012 |
The Department for Education has launched a consultation on revising Sure Start Children’s Centres’ statutory guidance
| The Department for Education has launched a consultation on revising Sure Start Children’s Centres’ statutory guidance. The closing date is 1 June 2012. |
| Source: Department for Education 05 March 2012 |
The Dep Ed has launched a consultation on guidance for Local Authorities on services to improve young people’s wellbeing
| The Department for Education has launched a consultation on guidance for Local Authorities on services to improve young people’s wellbeing. Issues covered include: ensuring the protection of young people from harm and neglect, and ascertaining and taking into account their views on service provision. The consultation closes on 25 May 2012. |
| Source: Department for Education 05 March 2012 |
The Home Office has announced plans to tighten the law on sex offenders
| The Home Office has announced plans to tighten the law on sex offenders. Proposed changes will make it compulsory for offenders on the sex offenders’ register to: notify the police of all foreign travel; notify the police weekly of where they can be found when they have no fixed abode; notify police when they are living with a child under the age of 18; and notify the police of passport, bank account and credit card details. |
| Source: Home Office Press Release 05 March 2012 |
| Further information: Telegraph 05 March 2012 |
The Home Office has published an updated version of the violence against women and girls action plan
| The Home Office has published an updated version of the violence against women and girls action plan. The new plan updates on the progress made so far and outlines new actions, including: the creation of two new criminal offences of stalking; and working to reduce the harm suffered by women working in prostitution. |
| Source: Home Office Press Release 08 March 2012 |
| Further information: Call to end violence against women and girls: taking action: the next chapter (PDF) |
The Ministry of Justice is consulting on support to victims and witnesses
| The Ministry of Justice is consulting on support to victims and witnesses. The consultation will close on 22 April 2012. |
| Source: Ministry of Justice |
| Further information: Getting it right for victims and witnesses – consultation document |
Scottish children’s rights, early intervention and looked after children and young people.
| The Scottish Government has published a new leaflet introducing the policies and work of the Children and Families Directorate. Areas covered include: children’s rights, early intervention and looked after children and young people. |
| Source: Scottish Government 08 March 2012 |
| Further information: Getting it right for children and families. (PDF) |
Call to keep teenage girls out of custody
Teenage girls are committing less crime, with a big fall in violent offences, but are ending up in custody over “minor misdemeanours” a parliamentary inquiry has found.
As part of a year-long inquiry into girls, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Women in the Penal System found that the number of girls arrested each year has been falling since 2008.
In line with this, the number of disposals given to girls for offences has fallen from 59,236 in 2006/07 to 43,186 in 2009/10, a drop of 27.1 per cent.
The number of violent offences committed by girls has fallen from 17,415 in 2006/07 to 12,291 in 2009/10, a fall of 29 per cent.
The APPG, co-chaired by Baroness
The Multi Agency Resource Service (MARS) child protection newsletter for February
| The Multi Agency Resource Service (MARS) and the Scottish Child Care and Protection Network (SCCPN) have published their joint child protection newsletter for February. Subjects covered include: new research into social workers attitudes to child protection work and new funding for Scottish families affected by domestic violence. |
| Source: The SCCPN/MARS newsletter: February 2012 28 February 2012 |