Devon Safeguarding Digest – February 2025
Welcome to the February Devon Safeguarding Digest! This regular update will help you stay up to speed with safeguarding news and local policy changes.
Prime Minister orders public inquiry into Southport murders
The inquiry will consider the wider challenge of rising youth violence and extremism. The government has also ordered a major review of Prevent led by Lord David Anderson. More details about the next steps are available on the Government website.
Government announces urgent national review on grooming gangs
There will be an urgent three-month national review/rapid audit on the scale of grooming gangs. The government will also provide additional support to councils that want to run local inquiries into the issue. All police forces will be expected to produce problem profiles on the nature of grooming gangs in their areas.
Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) publishes its latest Safeguarding Pressures report
The research from April 2022 to March 2024 from across England identifies changes in safeguarding pressures related to the impact of Covid-19, housing concerns and poverty. The research also highlights the increasing relevance of both poor parental mental health and children’s mental health. The report is available to read on the ADCS website.
Children’s Commissioner statement on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
The Children’s Commissioner issued a statement welcoming the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that is currently progressing through Parliament.
The Commissioner also set out further recommendations including:
- Giving children the same protection from assault as adults
- Ending the use of illegal children’s homes
- Making schools the fourth statutory safeguarding partner (alongside social care, health, and police)
Devon not fast tracked for devolution
Devon has not been fast tracked for devolution, meaning that local elections to Devon County Council will go ahead as planned in May. Local government reorganisation changes will be expected to come into effect in April 2028 at the earliest.
Children’s Commissioner publishes report on children’s involvement in the 2024 riots
147 children were arrested, 84 of whom were charged, for their participation in the Summer 2024 riots. The research suggests children who participated in the riots were largely unaware of the political context, but were largely motivated by curiosity, opportunism, or animosity towards the police. The criminal justice response was less focused on children and rehabilitation than it might have been.
‘The widespread expression of hostility toward the police among these children also highlights an urgent need for child-centred policing that builds trust and fosters positive relationships.’
The full report can be read on the Children’s Commissioner’s website.
BBC reports on police data showing hotels being used for child exploitation
The BBC report indicates that there are suggestions that unmanned receptions and automated check-in systems allow suspicious guests to evade checks or questions by hotel staff.
Government plans to make it mandatory to report child sexual abuse
The Home Secretary has confirmed plans to includes measures in the upcoming crime and policing bill (expected to be put before Parliament this spring) to make it a criminal offence to fail to report or to cover up child sexual abuse.
Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel writes on learning from serious safeguarding incidents
Over a fifth of children in serious safeguarding incidents had mental health issues recorded. Disrupted education, long treatment wait times, and a lack of early interventions are all key challenges.