2021/24304 - Child Protection Plan

REQUEST

Question 1)

1. a) How many instances of child criminal exploitation* were detected in the years

17/18, 18/19, 19/20, 20/21

1. b) Please provide the number of victims involved and the nature of the crimes as recorded by the police e.g. county lines etc
2. c) Please provide the number of these victims who had been or were currently ‘Looked after Children’* or on a child protection plan*.

Question 2)

1. a) How many instances of child sexual exploitation were detected in the years

17/18, 18/19, 19/20, 20/21

1. b) Please provide the number of these victims who had been or were currently ‘Looked after Children’ or on a child protection plan

Question 3) 

1. a) How many arrests/cautions of children carrying knifes were made in the years?

17/18, 18/19, 19/20, 20/21

1. b) Please provide the number of arrests there were of children who had been or were currently ‘Looked after Children’ or on a child protection plan.

Question 4)

1. a) How many arrests/cautions have there been of children aged 10-17 which have led to a referral to the National Referral Mechanism* in the years?

17/18, 18/19, 19/20, 20/21

1. b) Please provide the number of arrests and referrals to the NRM of children who had been or were currently ‘Looked after Children’ or on a child protection plan.

Explanatory notes

*Child Criminal Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Please refer to Home Office guidance -  Criminal Exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: County Lines guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk)

*Looked after children are those who have been in the care of their local authority for more than 24 hours. Looked after children are also often referred to as children in care, a term which many children and young people prefer. It was defined in the Children Act 1989. 

Children looked after by local authorities in England: Guide to the SSDA903 collection 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 - Version 1.3 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

* A child protection plan is a plan drawn up by the local authority. It sets out how the child can be kept safe, how things can be made better for the family and what support they will need. Working Together to Safeguard Children: Statutory framework (publishing.service.gov.uk) 

* Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited they're given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they're in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they're being abused.

Child sexual exploitation: definition and guide for practitioners - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

*The National Referral Mechanism is a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support. Victims may not be aware that they are being trafficked or exploited, and may have consented to elements of their exploitation, or accepted their situation. If you think that modern slavery has taken place, the case should be referred to the NRM so that the Single Competent Authority (SCA) can fully consider the case. You do not need to be certain that someone is a victim. Child trafficking is child abuse. When an agency comes into contact with a child who may have been trafficked Children’s Services and police should be notified immediately. All children, irrespective of their immigration status, are entitled to protection. National Referral Mechanism: guidance for child first responders (publishing.service.gov.uk) 

RESPONSE