Devon Safeguarding Digest: March 2026
Welcome to the Devon Safeguarding Digest. This regular update will help you stay up to speed with safeguarding news and local policy changes.
New register for people convicted of child cruelty offences to be created
The government has tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to establish a register that will ensure child cruelty convictions, such as those around neglect, abandonment, or child female genital mutilation, will face the same police notification requirements as registered sex offenders.
House of Commons drops Lords’ social media ban (for now)
The House of Commons has rejected the amendment added by the House of Lords to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would have banned those under the age of 16 from social media. This was justified by the relevant government minister on the basis that there is an ongoing consultation on the matter which is open until 26 May, to which the government will respond in the summer.
Instead, powers will be given to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to allow her to restrict or ban children of certain ages from accessing social media services and chatbots, limit access to specific features that are harmful or addictive on these services, age-restrict or limit children’s VPN use, and change the age of digital consent in the UK GDPR if the outcomes of the consultation show that that is necessary.
AI use leading to serious errors in some social work records
Research across 17 councils shows AI transcription tools used in social work are in some cases inserting false information into official care records, including both gibberish and fabricated references to what would be serious or urgent matters.
Church of England approves major new safeguarding organ
The General Synod of the Church of England has voted to create a new independent national safeguarding charity to improve oversight. The body will have a majority independent board and have protected decision‑making powers, ensuring safeguarding decisions are made independently from the Church and its officials.
Children’s Commissioner calls for regulation on appearance‑changing products advertised to children on social media
A new report from the Children’s Commissioner finds that children are being routinely exposed on social media to harmful appearance‑changing products, including weight‑loss injections, steroids, Botox, and skin-lightening creams. 78% of young people surveyed said this harms their self-esteem.
The fall and rise of English youth clubs
In two articles, the Guardian explores on one hand the revival of youth clubs in some parts of the countries, and conversely the half of all council areas in England with little to no youth provision.