VE Day: Council duties under the Armed Forces Covenant
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Six-fold increase in reports of exploitative migrant care worker contracts
20/08/2024 The world’s largest nursing union has reported a six-fold increase in the number of migrant care workers in the UK complaining about exploitative contracts. |
British boys most at risk of modern slavery in UK
12/02/2024 People suffering criminal exploitation, often young British boys, must be recognised as victims of modern slavery, a new report has argued. |
Newsom report reveals Rochdale exploitation failings
15/01/2024 Failings by officials at Rochdale Council and senior police meant vulnerable girls were targeted by a child sexual abuse gang for years, report has concluded. |
Child trafficking victim owed back payments
19/12/2023 A child trafficking victim is entitled to back payments after the Home Office and Barnet Council left him without adequate care and support, High Court finds. |
Liverpool launches taskforce to tackle criminal landlords
04/12/2023 Liverpool City Council has launched a taskforce to go after rogue landlords involved in criminality. |
Councils need help to tackle care staff exploitation, union says
28/11/2023 The Government must drop plans to cap overseas care staff and act to stop the exploitation of those already working in the UK, the trade union Unison has said. |
Reports of exploitation in care sector surge
23/10/2023 There has been a dramatic rise in the number of workers in the care sector contacting a national helpline for victims of modern slavery, charity reveals. |
Union warns of ‘significant rise’ in social care exploitation
10/07/2023 Unison has warned of a ‘significant rise’ in the number of migrant workers who are being exploited in the social care sector. |
Campaigners call for more ‘sex for rent’ protections
29/06/2023 Generation Rent has called for the Government to do more to protect financially vulnerable renters from being forced into ‘sex for rent’ arrangements. |
Record number of children at risk of exploitation
05/06/2023 A record number of children are at risk of exploitation because families will be unable to afford activities over the holidays, Barnardo's warns. |
Councils flooded with ‘bogus’ refugee sponsorship offers
10/01/2023 Local authorities in London are struggling to cope with the amount of bogus Ukraine refugee sponsorship offers they receive, a migrants’ charity has warned. |
Labour market exploitation: How do you know where to look?
15/12/2022 Nottingham Trent University researchers Rich Pickford, Ian Clark and James Hunter look at how local authorities can identify labour exploitation. |
Former children’s commissioner calls for ‘Sure Start Plus’
04/11/2022 The Government should establish a Sure Start Plus programme that could be targeted at teenagers who are at risk of exploitation, former commissioner says. |
Khan announces £2m fund to fight criminal exploitation
17/08/2022 Mayor Sadiq Khan has made £2m of funding available to support children and young people at risk of being exploited by criminal gangs. |
Children’s charity raises alarm over modern slavery
12/08/2022 A charity has called for action as figures show record numbers of children are being referred to the authorities as suspected victims of modern slavery. |
Councils need support to protect refugees from exploitation, experts say
29/04/2022 The Government has been urged to take ‘urgent measures’ to support councils in their response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis in order to tackle exploitation. |
Commission calls for end to school ‘exclusions culture’
29/04/2022 The rise in the number of exclusions from schools leads to teenagers being put at risk of exploitation and serious violence, new report warns. |
Child Sexual Exploitation: Why awareness days matter
25/03/2022 Georgina Middleton discusses the importance of awareness days and how they can be a key stepping stone towards real and lasting change. |
'Alarmingly high' numbers of exploited looked-after-children going missing from care
21/03/2022 Nearly half of looked-after-children that have experienced criminal or sexual exploitation went missing from care in 2020, charities have warned. |
Teenagers at risk of exploitation due to 'decade-long breakdown in help'
02/03/2022 Thousands of teenagers from all backgrounds are at risk from exploitation, grooming and harm because their families aren’t getting the support they need, a report has warned today. |
West Midlands to pilot advice scheme for parents and carers
22/02/2022 The West Midlands has been selected to pilot a new Government scheme to support and provide advice to parents and carers. |
Care system putting teenagers in 'danger' report warns
04/01/2022 The care system is 'unfit for purpose' and is putting vulnerable teenagers at risk of exploitation and crime, a new report has warned. |
Taskforces to support young people in serious violence 'hotspots'
03/12/2021 The Government is deploying 10 special taskforces to help stop vulnerable young people becoming involved in county lines and criminal activity. |
System 'failing' thousands of children affected by modern slavery
05/10/2021 Thousands of children affected by modern slavery are being 'overlooked and forgotten' by the system, a charity has said. |
Figures show rise in sexual and criminal exploitation under lockdown
07/04/2021 Criminal and sexual exploitation has risen ‘dramatically’ during the pandemic, new data has warned today. |
New strategy 'a golden opportunity' to tackle child sexual abuse
22/01/2021 A new strategy to protect children from all forms of child sexual abuse has been published by the Government today. |
Charity calls for more support for county lines victims
25/09/2020 A new strategy is needed to identify and support county lines victims, according to The Children's Society. |
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Charity warns of increase in gang activity post-lockdown
03/06/2020 Criminal gangs are using new ways of exploiting children in the wake of coronavirus, a new report has warned. |
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Child sexual exploitation cases in Greater Manchester ‘reopened’
14/01/2020 Victims of child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester are having their cases newly investigated as a result of a review commissioned by the Mayor of Greater Manchester. |
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Over 4,000 young people ‘exploited’ by County Lines gangs
20/09/2019 Figures released by the Mayor of London’s office have revealed that there are more than 4,000 young people involved in County Lines operating out of London. |
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Six men found guilty of child abuse in Rotherham
29/08/2019 Six men have been convicted of child sexual abuse offences as part of the ongoing investigation into the exploitation of vulnerable teenagers in Rotherham. |
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Council apologises for failing to protect girls from grooming gang
11/06/2019 Kirklees Council has apologised for failing to protect two girls from abuse, after an independent review found opportunities were lost to protect them from exploitation. |
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Government launches £2m programme to tackle child exploitation
09/05/2019 The Department for Education has launched a new programme designed to provide specialist support for children at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation. |
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Rotherham council to regain full control of services
19/09/2018 All powers are to be returned to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, three years after government intervention. |
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Whitehall announces £2m unit to protect vulnerable children from gangs
29/08/2018 A national response unit designed to offer local authorities tailored support to help children at risk of exploitation by criminal gangs is due to be launched next year. |
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Councils must do more to protect workers’ rights globally, union says
18/06/2018 A public sector union has criticised local authorities for ‘not doing enough’ to protect workers’ rights globally. |
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Telford takes decisive action
07/06/2018 Clive Jones hits back at recent news coverage surrounding child sexual exploitation in Telford and Wrekin. |
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Former council leader ‘lied’ about child sexual abuse, inquiry finds
13/04/2018 The inquiry into child sexual abuse in Rochdale has accused the former leader of the council of lying and said his refusal to accept responsibility was ‘shameful’. |
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British citizens ‘largest nationality’ recorded in slavery figures
27/03/2018 British citizens are for the first time the largest nationality recorded as potential victims in the national trafficking and modern slavery figures. |
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Telford leader calls for public inquiry into child sexual exploitation
14/03/2018 Telford council has called for an independent inquiry into cases of child sexual exploitation after revelations that up to 1,000 girls may have been victims of grooming gangs. |
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Council praised for not sweeping sexual exploitation 'under the carpet'
23/02/2018 Newcastle City Council has been praised for the way it supported and protected the victims of sexual exploitation in a new report. |
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Council chiefs call for ‘cross-sector’ approach to fighting slavery
17/01/2018 Local authority leaders have called for a ‘coherent, cross-sector’ approach to tackling modern slavery as new figures reveal an increase of almost 50% in the number of people referred as potential victims. |
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Opportunity is knocking for ‘jaw-dropping’ local government
16/10/2017 Local government is jaw dropping, can inspire citizens and, at its best, can outshine any part of Whitehall, former tsar Dame Louise Casey has claimed. |
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Councils taking proactive approach to tackling child abuse
12/10/2017 There has been a ‘sharp increase’ in local authorities’ efforts to recognise and combat child sexual exploitation (CSE), a leading children’s charity has said. |
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Dealing with large-scale abuse claims
11/09/2017 In the first of a two part review of claims against local authority social services departments, Kella Bowers and Andrew Ellis consider the effects of claims alleging a failure to protect children from child sexual exploitation and abuse in care. |
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Council leader praises bravery of sex abuse victims
10/08/2017 The leader of Newcastle City Council has praised the victims of sexual abuse whose testimony helped convict 18 sex offenders. |
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Report warns half a million children are so vulnerable they need state intervention
04/07/2017 Millions of children are growing up in high risk or vulnerable family situations, a new report has revealed today. |
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Children subject to sexual abuse in families are being failed by system reports warn
20/04/2017 Many victims of child sexual abuse within families are failing to receive the help they need, often waiting months or years for therapy, new research has warned today. |
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Inspections to assess local protection of ‘at risk’ children announced
19/04/2017 A new set of inspections to examine how local partner agencies - including local authorities - are working together to protect children at risk of neglect will begin next month. |
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Councils urge public to report suspicions of modern slavery
24/03/2017 The public needs to be more aware of modern slavery, council chiefs warn as figures reveal the ‘hidden crime’ soaring. |
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Tackling modern slavery with supply chain transparency
22/03/2017 A new public database is committed to ending modern slavery by making supply chains more transparent. William Eichler finds out more. |
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Professionals urged to spot ‘soft’ signs of child abuse
22/02/2017 Social workers and other people that work with children have been urged to spot the ‘soft’ signs that a child is being abused. |
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Councils warn £40m package to tackle child abuse ‘not enough’
16/02/2017 Councils have warned a £40m package of Government measures to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking, is not enough. |
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‘Alarming’ number of child trafficking victims missing from care
15/11/2016 The number of trafficked and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children going missing from local authority care is a ‘national disgrace’ two charities have warned today. |
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Ofsted chief accuses some police forces of failing on child protection
19/10/2016 The chief inspector of Ofsted has criticised police forces for failing to protect children from abuse. |
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Charity refers 500 reports of child slavery to councils
13/10/2016 Over 500 reports of child slavery were referred to local authorities this year, according to a national children’s charity. |
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Healthcare staff ‘not always able’ to identify signs of sexual exploitation
29/09/2016 Not all frontline healthcare staff are able to identify the signs of sexual exploitation, inspectorates find. |
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Council defends record on dealing with child abuse cases
05/09/2016 Telford and Wrekin Council denies mishandling cases of child sexual exploitation and claims each incident is ‘appropriately recorded and thoroughly investigated.’ |
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Jay to chair child sexual abuse inquiry
12/08/2016 The Home Secretary has appointed Professor Alexis Jay as the new chair of the Government’s beleaguered child sexual abuse inquiry. |
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Dame Lowell Goddard resigns as head of child sex abuse inquiry
05/08/2016 Dame Lowell Goddard has become the third chair to step down as head of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse. |
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Labour warns councils lack resources to eradicate modern slavery
01/08/2016 The government’s plans to defeat modern slavery will only work if local authorities are given the financial resources to help tackle and prevent abuse, Labour has warned. |
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Council apologises for inadequte protection for sexual exploitation victims
12/07/2016 Coventry City Council has apologised for not providing better care and support to five girls who were sexually exploited. |
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Ofsted: Councils failing to protect vulnerable children missing from education
08/07/2016 Birmingham, Bradford and Luton are unable to protect children missing from education from harm, exploitation or extremist ideologies, Ofsted warn. |
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Vulnerable children need better protection from harm, finds report
08/07/2016 Healthcare services are failing to identify and protect children at risk of abuse and exploitation, a new report has warned today. |
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Council accepts report into taxi licensing failures
23/06/2016 South Ribble Council had failed to make the safety of taxi passengers a priority when issuing licenses, a report has concluded. |
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Thousands of sex offences against children ‘cyber-flagged’ by police
21/06/2016 More than 3,000 sex crimes involving the Internet were committed against children last year, the NSPCC reveals. |
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MPs call for missing children system to be axed
26/05/2016 A group of MPs has called for a police system for recording missing children to be scrapped because it does not safeguard them from harm. |
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One in every five children reported to social services
26/05/2016 One in every five children in England are referred to social services due to concerns over abuse or neglect, new research has revealed. |
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Queen's Speech 2016: Crack down on extremists working with vulnerable groups
18/05/2016 Councils will be given the power to stop extremists from working with children or vulnerable people, under tough new measures unveiled today in the Queen's speech. |
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Licensing officers suspended for checks failure
19/04/2016 Two licensing officers with South Ribble Borough Council who allegedly issued licences without checks have been suspended in light of an interim report. |
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Non-stereotypical victims of child sexual exploitation are being missed
18/03/2016 The stereotyping of victims by frontline staff is putting children at risk of being sexually exploited, a charity is warning. |
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Police to investigate historic children in care abuse in Essex
09/03/2016 Essex Police have launched an investigation into allegations about historic sexual abuse against children in care. |
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New £80m fund to tackle domestic violence
09/03/2016 The Government has set aside £80m to help protect women and girls from violence. |
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New definition of child sexual exploitation
16/02/2016 A consultation seeking to clarify the definition of child sexual exploitation has been launched. |
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Launch of whistleblowing helpline to identify child protection failures
15/02/2016 A new whistleblowing helpline has been launched by the Hone Office to enable staff to report child protection failures. |
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Website launched to protect children from ‘twisted ideologies’
19/01/2016 A new website is being launched by the Government to help parents protect children from ‘radical views’. |
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Minister sets out new policy to reduce gang violence
14/01/2016 Nine communities are to receive targeted support to help tackle gang violence and exploitation. |
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Rise in number of children missing from foster care warns report
11/12/2015 The number of children going missing from foster care rose by almost a fifth in the last year, according to the latest report from Ofsted. |
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Fear is stopping huge numbers of older teenagers from reporting sex crimes warns report
04/11/2015 Fear is preventing huge numbers of 16 and 17 year olds from reporting sex crimes, according to The Children’s Society. |
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Hackney project aims to help parents combat gang culture
20/10/2015 A new project has been launched in Hackney to help parents spot the signs of children becoming involved with gangs. |
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Extremism strategy bans terrorists from working with children
19/10/2015 Convicted terrorists will be automatically barred from working with children and vulnerable people under new plans outlined by the Government. |
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Rise in ‘exorcism and witchcraft’ child abuse cases
12/10/2015 The number of child abuse cases linked to witchcraft and exorcism accusations has increased, according to a new investigation. |
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Rotherham to remain under Government control until 2019
25/08/2015 The Government has said it is likely to take four years until full powers are returned to Rotherham Council following intervention after a sexual abuse scandal emerged in 2014. |
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Taxi drivers become council’s ‘eyes and ears’ on child sexual exploitation
11/08/2015 Taxi drivers have been given a safeguarding handbook to help them act as a city’s ‘eyes and ears’ on issues including child sexual exploitation. |
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£3m funding boost to tackle child sexual abuse in Rotherham
03/08/2015 A £3.1m plan to improve support for survivors of child sexual abuse has been launched by Rotherham MBC, the Government and Barnardos. |
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Rotherham’s health services ‘unclear’ about role one year after CSE revelations
14/07/2015 Rotherham Council has been blasted for ‘unacceptable’ confusion in its health services, almost a year after a damning report into child protection failings. |
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Police investigate 1,400 suspects and 666 institutions over child sexual abuse
21/05/2015 Police have investigated over 1,400 suspects over allegations of child sexual abuse including hundreds linked to schools, children’s homes and community centres. |
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Figures show thousands of disabled adults sexually abused
18/05/2015 Nearly 5,000 disabled adults have been sexually abused in the past two years, according to council figures. |
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Councils call for grooming bans to prevent abuse
26/03/2015 Town hall chiefs are calling for new powers to help stop children being groomed for sex. |
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Councils blasted for 'appalling' treatment of vulnerable teens
20/03/2015 Thousands of vulnerable teenagers are being turned away by their local council when they seek help after facing homelessness, a new report is warning. |
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Social workers say threat of prison will make children less safe
19/03/2015 Government plans to take criminal action against council staff that fail protect children, will ‘scapegoat’ workers, according to the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). |
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Up to 500 children at risk of sexual exploitation in West Midlands
18/03/2015 Almost 500 children and young people in the West Midlands have been the victims of sexual exploitation, in the past six months, according to a new report published today. |
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All councils should be reinspected following Rotherham child abuse, say MPs
17/03/2015 All local authorities in England should be examined by Ofsted to ensure they are tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE), a report from a panel of MPs is demanding. |
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Former Rotherham leader denies ‘bully’ claims
11/03/2015 The former leader of Rotherham Council, Roger Stone, has denied claims by senior officers and councillors that he was a ‘bully’. |
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Women urged to speak out about abuse concerns
04/03/2015 A new fund has been launched to help women report child sexual exploitation, amid fears some may feel uncomfortable reporting concerns to the authorities. |
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Social workers 'deeply disturbed' by findings of serious case review
03/03/2015 Today’s serious case review into the grooming of young girls in Oxfordshire will have ‘far-reaching consequences’ for the way child sexual exploitation is handled, according to social workers. |
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Council admits failure to protect young people from sexual grooming
03/03/2015 More than 350 young people in Oxfordshire have been victims of sexual exploitation over the last 15 years, according to a serious case review. |
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Council staff could face prison for failing to protect children
03/03/2015 Public officials who fail to act on suspicions of child abuse could face five-year prison sentences under new measures unveiled today. |
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Pickles names leaders to take over Rotherham Council
27/02/2015 The five commissioners appointed to take over scandal-hit Rotherham Council have been announced by local government secretary, Eric Pickles. |
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Frontline services failing to identify child sex abuse victims, warns report
17/02/2015 Local authorities are failing to identify children at risk of being sexually exploited, according to the findings of a new report. |
