Source: Department for Education published on this website Monday 14 September 2026 by Jill Powell

Statutory information sharing duty guidance 2026 for practitioners and organisations providing safeguarding and welfare services for children and young people.

Summary of Guidance

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduced an information sharing duty to provide clarity for practitioners on what and when they should share information for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Local safeguarding arrangements, practices and procedures, alongside pre-existing statutory responsibilities, then determine how this information should be shared, and with whom. As with all processing of personal data, data protection law determines how to do so appropriately. This guidance explains what organisations and practitioners must do to comply with the information sharing duty under section 16LA (s16LA) of the Children Act 2004, and what they should do to ensure consistent and effective information sharing to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Organisations to whom the information sharing duty applies must have regard to this guidance in accordance with s16LA(6) of the Children Act 20041. This document should be complied with, unless exceptional circumstances arise. Regulators and inspectorates may consider compliance when assessing effectiveness. Legislation this publication refers to This guidance refers to section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 (s16LA), as amended by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.

This guidance applies to organisations in England, within s16LA(4), including:

• Section 11(1) Children Act 2004 organisations (e.g. local authorities, Integrated Care Boards, NHS Trusts, the police, prison and probation services, youth justice services, and youth custody services)2. • Designated childcare or education agencies for the purposes of section 16E3.
• Providers delivering services pursuant to arrangements made by the above for functions relating to safeguarding and promoting welfare. This includes GPs, dentists, and other primary care providers.
• Organisations and practitioners to whom the information sharing duty does not apply may find this guidance helpful for best practice, and for understanding how the statutory safeguarding framework, which they contribute information to, operates.

Source: Disclosure and Barring Service published on this website Thursday 10 September 2026 by Jill Powell

This guidance applies to DBS checks in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Information about checks in Scotland is available from Disclosure Scotland. Information about checks in Northern Ireland is available from AccessNI.

Important

This guidance is for general information only. Not everyone can get every type of DBS check. Use the DBS eligibility guidance and DBS eligibility tool on GOV.UK to check whether the person you are looking to employ can apply for this type of DBS check.

1. Introduction

From 21 January 2026, some self-employed workers and personal employees can apply for an Enhanced DBS check where eligible.

In some situations, this may also include checks of the Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred Lists.

Not everybody can apply for every type of DBS check. Whether someone can apply depends on the work they do and who they work with. This is known as DBS eligibility.

 This means that if you are considering employing someone to work with your child, yourself or a vulnerable family member, you can ask to see an Enhanced DBS certificate before making your decision. An Enhanced DBS certificate can provide useful information. However, it is only one part of making an informed decision.

This guide explains how a DBS certificate can be used alongside other information when choosing someone to work with your child or vulnerable family member.

Sources: Sussex Police published on this web page Friday 11 September 2026

Former primary school teacher Joseph Haffenden has been jailed for sexually assaulting two children.

Haffenden, 32, pleaded guilty in Jly to six counts of sexual assault by touching and six counts of false imprisonment.

It followed a report on 12 February relating to two nine-year-old boys who had been sexually assaulted between January and February this year.

Both boys provided similar accounts of a what Haffenden labelled a ‘game’ whereby the victims were tickled under their clothing with his hands, a feather, and an electric toothbrush.

The offences were disclosed to adults who reported it to Sussex Police.

Haffenden, of High Street in Lindfield, was arrested and the victims and their families were supported by specialist officers.

Officers searched Haffenden’s property and found a number of items suggesting an interest in children and evidence which supported the victims’ accounts.

Haffenden was suspended from a teaching role and has subsequently been dismissed.

At Lewes Crown Court on Monday 20 July, Haffenden admitted the charges.

On Thursday (3 September), Haffenden was jailed for 51 months.

Detective Sergeant Ellen Jones said: “Haffenden’s disturbing crimes suggest a clear sexual interest in children that jar alarmingly with his position as a teacher.

“Thanks to the bravery of his victims for reporting his offending, we have been able to bring him to justice and ensure he can pose no further risk to children.

“I would urge any other victims of sexual offending, no matter how long ago, to report online or phone 101, so we can investigate, support you and seek the justice you deserve.”

Source: Intellectual Property Office (IPO) published on this web site Wednesday 9 August 2026

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published its latest Trading Standards Survey report, setting out a picture of the IP crime issues local Trading Standards teams are investigating and observing on the frontline.

Dangerous counterfeit toys are now a more visible enforcement concern, with 67% of responding local authorities reporting investigations.

The annual survey covers April 2025 to March 2026 and received responses from 142 of 189 local authorities.

Responses provide valuable frontline insights from local Trading Standards teams about how counterfeit goods are reaching communities across the UK. In turn, this helps build a clearer picture of a criminal threat that operates locally, nationally and globally. These insights help inform wider enforcement action to disrupt the illegal trade in counterfeits, helping to protect consumers, local businesses and high streets.

Responses this year show that cigarettes and tobacco remain the most commonly investigated counterfeit goods, reported by 89% of responding local authorities, followed by clothing at 69% and toys at 67%.

This year’s report also underlines how counterfeit goods support a wider criminal economy. Sixty-four percent of responding local authorities observed links during investigations between counterfeiting and organised crime groups — around a third higher than last year. Trading Standards teams also continue to report links between people committing IP crimes and other forms of criminality including money laundering, people trafficking/modern slavery, and drug dealing.

Andy Cooke-Welling, the IPO’s Director of Enforcement, said:

Trading Standards officers are on the frontline of tackling IP crime, seizing unsafe goods, disrupting counterfeiters, and protecting consumers, businesses and communities across the UK. This year’s survey shows growing links to serious and organised crime and the groups which enable this, underlining that counterfeit goods are anything but harmless bargains. They not only put people at risk, but form part of a wider criminal threat.

Counterfeit toys are clearly a growing concern, with more than two in three respondents reporting investigations. Our Fake Toys, Real Harms campaign — amplified by sustained national media attention around counterfeit Labubu dolls — has put this firmly in the public eye and sharpened awareness among consumers, industry and law enforcement bodies. Working alongside our partners, we remain focused on stopping dangerous counterfeits reaching communities, and disrupting the criminal networks behind them.

The IPO continues to work with partners across law enforcement, government and industry to help turn frontline intelligence into targeted action. This approach helps prevent harmful counterfeit goods reaching homes, high streets and communities, while raising wider awareness and understanding of the risks they pose. It is a shared effort to help keep communities safe, support legitimate businesses and make it harder for criminal groups to profit from IP crime.