Jamie Bulger’s father urges Parole Board to prevent Jon Venables from ‘harming children again’ ahead of killer’s release – Daily Telegraph

‘The father of murdered child James Bulger has urged the Parole Board to prevent one of his son’s killers from having the chance to “harm young children again” ahead of his impending release.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Report on special guardianship orders urges changes in mindset, regulations and protocols – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 16th, 2019 in carers, children, guardianship, news, reports by sally

‘The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has called for major changes to special guardianship orders (SGOs) to ensure that family members who become carers have direct experience beforehand of looking after the child concerned. Its research review was undertaken in response to the Court of Appeal’s call for authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the use of SGOs.’

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Local Government Lawyer,16th August 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fifa accused of ‘astonishing’ leniency after fining Manchester City for breaching rules on transfers of schoolchildren – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 15th, 2019 in children, disciplinary procedures, fines, news, school children, sport by sally

‘Fifa was on Wednesday night accused of risking more clubs flouting rules designed to protect child footballers after Manchester City were let off with a fine for their part in breaking regulations.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Vanessa George: Families ‘tormented’ by nursery abuser’s silence – BBC News

‘A father who believes his child was sexually assaulted by nursery worker Vanessa George has said he is “tormented” by her unwillingness to admit which infants she abused. George pleaded guilty in 2009 to seven sexual assaults on children and making 124 indecent images of children – but she refused to identify her victims. She has now been judged eligible for parole under strict conditions.’

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BBC News, 15th August 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family court has jurisdiction to review its findings of fact, says Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 14th, 2019 in appeals, children, family courts, jurisdiction, news by michael

‘The family court has the statutory power to review its own decisions and challenges to findings of fact on the basis of further evidence do not have to be by way of appeal only, the Court of Appeal has held.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th August 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Coach jailed for ‘regime of sexual abuse’ against teenage girls – The Guardian

‘A former British athletics coach has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for a “regime of sexual abuse” against teenage girls at the club where he worked.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Children of British Isis members will not be allowed to return to UK, government rules – The Independent

Posted August 13th, 2019 in children, citizenship, families, news, rehabilitation, terrorism by sally

‘Children of British Isis members stranded in Syria will not be allowed to return to the UK, the government has reportedly decided.’

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The Independent, 12th August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Chicken shop’ drug gangs recruit children with food, inquiry finds – The Guardian

Posted August 12th, 2019 in children, drug trafficking, gangs, news, offensive weapons, select committees by sally

‘Criminal “chicken shop gangs” are recruiting children to deal drugs with the offer of free food, a parliamentary investigation has found. So-called chicken shop grooming was described in written evidence submitted to the youth select committee, which is investigating the UK’s knife crime epidemic.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge allows girl at risk of FGM to be taken on Egypt trip subject to safeguards – Local Government Lawyer

‘A girl at potential risk of female genial mutilation (FGM) may be taken on a trip to Egypt to visit her father but only in strictly controlled circumstances, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th August 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The “long arm” of the police – how “confidential” are family proceedings? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘“Not very” seems to be the answer in the Court of Appeal decision in M (Children) [ 2019] EWCA Civ 1364 . Sir Andrew McFarlane upheld Keehan J’s decision to disclose the parents’ initial statement and position statement to the police following the initial interim care hearing. In family proceedings parents are advised that their evidence is confidential to those proceedings. They are encouraged to be open and frank and to understand that their children’s interests are the Court’s main concern. But something seems to be eroding these principles, a trend set since the case of Re H (Children) [2009] EWCA. The Court of appeal approved the test from Re C ( see below) and gave it the “fit for purpose” badge. The decision should be seen in the context of this being a police terrorism enquiry.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th August 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Chelsea apology over ex-chief scout Eddie Heath’s ‘unchallenged’ sex abuse – BBC News

‘Young Chelsea players were targeted for years by a “prolific and manipulative sexual abuser” who was able to operate “unchallenged”, says a damning report.’

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BBC News, 6th August 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tafida Raqeeb: family to fight NHS in court in effort to save daughter – The Guardian

Posted August 7th, 2019 in children, doctors, families, hospitals, medical treatment, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The family of a seriously ill five-year-old girl are taking on an NHS trust in court to try to force doctors to release her for what they believe would be life-saving treatment abroad.’

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The Guardian, 6th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Report calls for reform to special guardianship to protect and support children and carers – Family Law

Posted August 6th, 2019 in children, guardianship, news, parental responsibility, reports by sally

‘A recent report calls for significant changes to Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs), which includes ensuring family members who might become carers have direct experience of looking after the child before the court order is made. The review was commissioned by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory in response to the Court of Appeal’s call for authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the use of SGOs. It was led by Dr John Simmonds from CoramBAAF and Professor Judith Harwin from Lancaster University.’

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Family Law, 5th August 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Louise Porton jailed for life for murder of daughters – BBC News

‘A mother who killed her two daughters because they “got in the way of her sex life” has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 2nd August 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Babies living with abusive parents under 24-hour CCTV, as Children’s Commissioner calls for review into the ‘Big Brother-style’ centres – Daily Telegraph

‘Babies are living with abusive parents under 24-hour CCTV surveillance, The Telegraph can reveal, as the Children’s Commissioner calls for a review into the ‘Big Brother-style’ accommodation.

However “disturbing” cases – which have remained unreported until now – where children have been physically injured and sexually abused while living in the units have prompted the Children’s Commissioner to call for a review into the controversial scheme.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Children in prison twice as likely to have special needs, figures show – The Independent

‘Children in prison are twice as likely to have special educational needs as those in the general population, new figures reveal, prompting concern that vulnerable teenagers are being let down by mainstream services.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘I am DNA proof my father is a rapist’ – BBC News

Posted August 5th, 2019 in adoption, child abuse, children, DNA, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A woman conceived by rape wants her father brought to justice in a so-called “victimless prosecution”, in one of the first cases of its kind, the BBC has learned.’

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BBC News, 5th August 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Lolita’ phenomenon is allowing men to groom teenage girls without fear of arrest, Telegraph investigation reveals – Daily Telegraph

‘A boom in “Lolita” sites on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms is allowing paedophiles to target teenage girls without fear of arrest, an investigation by The Sunday Telegraph has found.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Children: Public Law Update (Summer 2019) – Family Law Week

Posted August 1st, 2019 in appeals, case management, child abuse, children, costs, families, health, news by sally

‘John Tughan QC of 4 Paper Buildings reviews recent important Children Public Law cases.’

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Family Law Week, 31st July 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Children in care in Nottingham ‘abused by predators’ – BBC News

‘Hundreds of children were sexually abused by predatory foster carers and residential home staff who were allowed to thrive, an inquiry has found. Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County councils exposed vulnerable children to repeated rapes and physical abuse, a report said. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse said sexualised behaviour by staff was “tolerated or overlooked”.’

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BBC News, 31st July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk