Child abuse image offence recorded every 23 minutes in the UK

Source: NSPCC published on this site Thursday 20th September 2018 by Jill Powell

The number of child abuse image offences recorded by police in the UK rose by almost a quarter last year, with an average of 1 offence every 23 minutes.

New figures obtained from Freedom of Information requests to every police force in the country, found that 22,724 offences were recorded in 2017/18. 

A single offence recorded by police can involve hundreds of indecent images of children. 

Offenders use social networks to target children for abuse online, grooming and manipulating them into sending naked images. 

First independent chair for The Church of England National Safeguarding Panel

Source: The Church of England published on this site Tuesday 18th September 2018

Meg Munn, former MP and Government Minister, with a professional background in child and adult safeguarding issues, has been appointed as the first independent chair of the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Panel (NSP). Meg attended her first Panel today where she was officially installed as Chair, taking over from Bishop Peter Hancock, the Church’s lead safeguarding bishop.

Meg Munn is a qualified social worker with 20 years’ experience and led children's social services in York before being elected as a Member of Parliament in 2001. She spent 14 years in Parliament and was a government minister; in 2010 she established and chaired the All-Party Child Protection Parliamentary Group having previously chaired the All-Party Voice Parliamentary Group which worked for the prevention of abuse of vulnerable adults. Stepping down from parliament in 2015, Meg became an independent governance consultant and non-executive director.  She has been a member of the Methodist Church since her teenage years and lives in Yorkshire. 

Members of the NSP, including survivors and senior representatives from other safeguarding charities and organisations, were part of the advisory panel in the interview process.  

Keeping children safe in education updated 19th September 2018

This guidance applies to all schools and is for:

• headteachers, teachers and staff
• governing bodies, proprietors and management committees

It sets out the legal duties you must follow to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 in schools and colleges.

All school and college staff should read part 1 of this guidance. Part 1 of the guidance is also available as a standalone document.

‘Regulated activity in relation to children: scope’ describes work that a barred person must not do.

To read the guidance click: http://www.safecic.co.uk/freebies/55-free-downloads-and-safeguarding-links/401-eng#EDsg18

Fundraising Preference Service spoof email alert

Source: Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) published on this site Monday 17th September 2018 by Jill Powell

The Fundraising Preference Service are aware of a spoof email being sent to charities, asking for money for the Fundraising Preference Service or saying that an invoice is due. To clarify, we DO NOT send out invoices for the Fundraising Preference Service, as the cost of this service is covered by the fundraising levy.

Please do not confuse the spoof email with the legitimate invoices we are currently sending out for Year 3 of the fundraising levy. These invoices are sent to organisations that spend more than £100,000 on fundraising, using the email address levy@fundraisingregulator.org.uk

If you’re concerned because you have received a spoof FPS email, or think you might have, please get in contact with us on 0300 999 3407 or at enquiries@fundraisingregulator.org.uk

If you know of any other organisations you think might be affected by this, please share this advice with them. This incident has been reported to Action Fraud.