Source: Office of Products, Safety and Standards published on this website Monday 15 December 2025 by Jill Powell

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert for baby sleep pillows following child fatalities in the UK and overseas.

The alert identifies the products as pillows or cushions for babies to sleep – or be placed – on unsupervised. Risks to the baby include suffocation and overheating which can lead to injury or, in some cases, death.

The term ‘Baby Sleep Pillows’ covers a range of products marketed under names that include baby comfort cushions, sleeping pillows or exhaust pillows. The Safety Alert gives a fuller list of common names on the market.

Parents and carers are urged not to use these products for babies under 12 months old or to place them in a cot or crib. If the product was marketed for baby sleep or to be used unattended, parents and carers should contact the business directly to discuss redress.

Read the Safety Alert.

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Thursday 11 December 2025 by Jill Powell

Two men who committed unspeakable acts of violence against vulnerable children have been jailed as the CPS continues to crack down on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Charlie Johnson, 24, and Prince Singh, 23, encouraged their victims to self-harm before illegally sharing indecent images and videos of them in online chat rooms.

The case involved two girls as young as 16, who made complaints to separate police forces across the UK. It demonstrates the growing complexity of technology-facilitated child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Today, at Woolwich Crown Court, Johnson was sentenced to four years in prison, while Singh was sentenced to two years and nine months.

The new CPS VAWG Strategy recognises the increasing prevalence and evolving nature of technology-enabled offending, and commits to building and sharing knowledge to ensure robust prosecutions and the right support for victims.

Jessica Lunan, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Charlie Johnson and Prince Singh committed devastating acts of violence and coercion against their young vulnerable victims. 

“Through online chat rooms, they exploited and preyed upon young girls from different parts of the UK by illegally sharing indecent images of them and encouraging them to commit acts of self-harm. 

“Our prosecutors work tirelessly to protect victims and bring offenders to justice. Sharing indecent images of children is a criminal offence, and those who do so will face the full force of the law.”

Johnson and Singh encouraged their victims to self-harm for their own sexual gratification – and displayed several examples of controlling or coercive behaviour that made the victims feel they had no choice but to comply with their requests. 

Johnson illegally obtained indecent images of his victims which were later shared in a group chat with many other people. In addition to the charges relating to indecent images of children and encouraging self-harm, Johnson was also convicted of three counts of assault by beating and three counts of common assault. 

The offenders were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court today after prosecutors successfully proved the horrific nature of their offending. This case marks the first time defendants have been convicted of assisting or encouraging serious self-harm (an offence which was introduced under the Online Safety Act 2023) following a jury trial. The defendants were also convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children.

Police also uncovered evidence of messages between the defendants, where they discussed the prospect of having sexual relations with girls as young as 13.

Building the case: tackling child sexual abuse and indecent images of children

Prosecutors need to start by asking: how do we show the court the full extent of harm when abuse crosses from physical violence into the digital world?

To do that, they had to work with police to link patterns of behaviour. The defendants encouraged victims to self-harm for sexual gratification, demonstrating coercive control, and prosecutors needed to show this was not isolated but part of a sustained campaign of abuse. 

Prosecutors also had to consider whether deprivation orders were necessary to prevent further harm. In this case, confiscating devices was vital to stop re-victimisation and protect other potential victims.

As the CPS VAWG Strategy sets out, the CPS is taking steps to ensure prosecutors have the right guidance and support to respond to technology-facilitated offending, and our recently updated Communications Offences guidance prompts prosecutors to make better use of deprivation orders.

By combining charges that reflected both physical harm and abuse committed through digital means, prosecutors ensured the sentences reflected the seriousness and complexity of the offending against vulnerable victims.

Dr Bob Nowill, Chair of The Cyber Trust, a charity which helps to protect children and vulnerable people from online abuse, said: “This case underlines the need for comprehensive Cyber Security advice and education in particular for vulnerable young people and their parents so that they all may access online information safely and appropriately.  In this case, we can see the dangers of online chat rooms through exploitation by people that try and get in contact with users of such spaces for criminal purposes.”

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Friday 12 December 2025 by Jill Powell

Experts have joined prosecutors to advise on how to spot hidden signs of ‘honour’-based abuse as part of a drive to improve how these complex and often-hidden crimes are prosecuted.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) invited specialist organisations to scrutinise the handling of these cases - which can include female genital mutilation and forced marriage - as part of its first ever national ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) scrutiny panel.

The first session, held yesterday, brought together women’s and victim support organisations, police and prosecutors to examine real cases and identify what more could have been done to spot signs of abuse.

Jaswant Narwal, CPS national lead for HBA, female genital mutilation and forced marriage, said: “Victims of ‘honour’-based abuse often suffer in silence, trapped by fear and loyalty, and terrified of speaking out against those closest to them.

“These crimes are not only hidden - they are also evolving - and that is why we need to bring stakeholders and partners into the room to work out what we’re getting right, and what we need to address better.

“We are determined to shine a light on this abuse and play our part to secure justice for those who feel they have no voice.”

The panel gave those gathered the opportunity to ask representatives of the CPS questions about a handful of cases. Specialist organisations were able to provide expert insight, including into the impact of offending on victims’ behaviour and responses and how they could have been better supported.

It also explored the potential impact of a new statutory legal definition of HBA, announced by the government, which aims to ensure consistency in how these crimes are identified and recorded.

HBA offences are frequently underreported because victims can face pressure and the fear of repercussions from their abusers who are often members of their own families or communities. These crimes can be deeply hidden, creating additional layers of consideration for prosecutors.

The scrutiny panel forms a key commitment under the CPS Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, which recognises the interconnected nature of offending in HBA cases - such as coercive control - and the need for a whole-system approach to address them.

Lessons learned will inform future prosecution guidance and training, ensuring prosecutors remain alert to the evolving nature of HBA, including emerging forms such as bridal abandonment, dowry abuse and immigration-related exploitation.

Insights from the panel will also help update the joint CPS and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) protocols for ‘honour’-based abuse/forced marriage and female genital mutilation, reinforcing the importance of collective working to better recognise these crimes and deliver justice for victims.

Assistant Chief Constable Emma James, national policing lead for HBA, said: “When victims and survivors come forward to share their experience, we must listen and act on what they tell us, their voices are fundamental in improving our response to ‘honour’-based abuse.

“We know that speaking out about ‘honour’-based abuse can take immense courage, and many victims do so while facing profound fear and risk. It’s why our response must be compassionate, thorough and unwavering – always prioritising their safety and holding offenders to account for their actions.

“A strong partnership between police and prosecutors is essential to building the best possible cases and ensuring victims receive the protection, care and justice they deserve.”

Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP attended the opening session of the panel to set out the Government’s ambition in tackling HBA and lead a discussion on the challenges victims face in disclosing female genital mutilation (FGM) and engaging with the criminal justice system.

She said: “Honour-based abuse is abhorrent and hiding behind traditions to carry out these acts, such as female genital mutilation, is unacceptable.

“Nobody should have to experience these awful crimes, and we must be relentless in bringing perpetrators to justice.

“This landmark panel brings together crucial partners across the criminal justice system to understand what we can do better to tackle these sensitive and complex crimes, and as Solicitor General, I am committed to ensuring victims get the justice they deserve.”

Source: Home Office published on this website Wednesday 10 December 2025 by Jill Powell

Baroness Anne Longfield CBE has been appointed to chair the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs as part of a 3-person panel appointed under the Inquiries Act, finally getting answers for victims and survivors.  

Longfield, a former Children’s Commissioner appointed in 2015 under the previous government, will be part of a 3-person panel. The three, appointed under the Inquiries Act, will investigate how young people were failed time and again by the very people who should have protected them. Longfield will work alongside Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panellists.

Longfield will instigate and direct local investigations in areas where it is suspected serious failures occurred, including Oldham. These will examine the actions of the police, councils, social services and other agencies, both locally and nationally, making sure any wrongdoing or cover-ups are brought to light and holding those responsible to account. Any evidence and findings from the inquiry that could support putting perpetrators behind bars will be passed to the police.  

The statutory inquiry will have full legal powers under the Inquiries Act to compel witnesses to give evidence, require organisations to hand over documents and records, and make recommendations, both locally and nationwide, to make sure nothing like this happens again.  

It has also been confirmed that the inquiry will focus exclusively on grooming gangs and explicitly ask how ethnicity, religion and cultural factors impacted both the response from authorities and the perpetrators themselves. The government has committed £65 million to the inquiry and it must not take longer than 3 years, putting a stop to victims waiting endlessly for answers. The draft terms of reference will now be consulted on before being finalised by March. 

Together the 3 panellists have extensive experience in championing children’s rights, holding policing to account and navigating local government systems. These 3 appointments reflect Baroness Casey’s recommendation that the inquiry be led by a panel of experts across the critical disciplines. 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: 

For years, the victims of these awful crimes were ignored. First abused by vile predators, they then found themselves belittled and even blamed, when it was justice they were owed. 

Today, I have announced the Chair and panel of an inquiry which will shine a bright light on this dark moment in our history.     

They will do so alongside the victims of these awful crimes who have waited for too long to see justice done.     

This inquiry is theirs, not ours. So I call on all those present to put politics aside, for a moment, and to support this Chair and her panel in the pursuit of the truth.

Baroness Anne Longfield CBE brings 4 decades of experience in children’s advocacy and safeguarding and was recommended by Baroness Casey, who has supported the set-up of the inquiry and has agreed to be an adviser to the inquiry for as long as is needed. 

Longfield will be supported by Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panellists, who have extensive experience in holding policing to account and local government systems. These 3 appointments reflect Baroness Casey’s recommendation that the inquiry be led by a panel of experts across the critical disciplines. 

The panellists will work directly with victims and survivors throughout the investigation, ensuring their experiences are at the heart of the inquiry and that investigations are victim-centred and trauma-informed. 

This comes amid a swathe of other activity announced by the government to tackle grooming gangs, including announcing a further £3.6 million to be invested into the policing response. 

Baroness Longfield CBE said: 

“I am honoured to be asked to undertake this important role by the Home Secretary. 

“The findings in Baroness Casey’s report were truly shocking, and I recognise that behind every heinous crime is a person, a child, a teenager, a family. I will never lose sight of this. 

“The inquiry owes it to the victims, survivors and the wider public to identify the truth, address past failings and ensure that children and young people today are protected in a way that others were not. The inquiry will follow the evidence and will not shy away from difficult or uncomfortable truths wherever we find them. I am pleased to be working alongside Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as expert panellists in championing children’s rights, holding policing to account and local government systems.

“The scourge of grooming gangs has not been adequately tackled over past decades. That must change and I will do everything in my power to make this happen. I am grateful to Baroness Casey for agreeing to act as adviser during the inquiry to ensure it stays true to this promise. 

A statutory inquiry was a key recommendation in Baroness Casey’s recent audit into grooming gangs, which exposed serious failings in how institutions responded to child sexual exploitation. It forms part of the government’s Plan for Change commitment to halve violence against women and girls, ensure safer streets and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.  

In the 6 months since the government accepted all of Baroness Casey’s recommendations, significant progress has been made.  

Hundreds of previously closed investigations into abuse and exploitation are being reviewed as part of a national police operation, Operation Beaconport, focused on bringing more perpetrators to justice and getting justice for victims and survivors. The inquiry will also work closely with this police operation and any evidence or findings they uncover that could lead to a criminal charge will be passed to the police.   

The government will also bring in an automatic disregard scheme for “child prostitution” convictions and cautions, so that survivors can get on with their lives free from unjust criminalisation and stigma.

A further almost £3.75 million will be invested into the policing response, support for survivors and research into how to stop grooming gangs, with: 

• nearly £1 million for the National Crime Agency to support Operation Beaconport, with a further £2.6 million for local police forces to review closed cases identified
• £146,000 for a rapid assessment of Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVAs) services, to identify any gaps in services for supporting child victims of grooming gangs and technology-assisted sexual offences

The Home Secretary has commissioned new research from UK Research and Innovation to rectify the unacceptable gaps in our understanding of perpetrators’ backgrounds and motivations, including their ethnicity and religion.