Consultation Launched to Keep Staffordshire's Children Safe

The Board, which brings together all organisations in the county that work to keep young people safe, launched the consultation at a conference at Yarnfield yesterday entitled "Safeguarding - Emerging Concerns".  The consultation comes as national laws to prevent forced marriages are introduced in England. 

Nearly 200 delegates from the health service, police, social work teams, Connexions, schools and the voluntary sector attended the event.  Among the issues for debate were child trafficking, forced marriage and honour killings. 

County Councillor Peter Beresford, cabinet lead for children and young people commented "It is tremendously important that professionals work closely together to keep children in Staffordshire safe.  It is very concerning that issues discussed today, including forced marriage and child trafficking, are an issue in the county.  All organisations have to develop our ways of working so we can identify the signs of such practices and act swiftly and decisively to make a difference."

He continued:  "A forced marriage is where the marriage does not have the full consent of both individuals.  It happens to men and women although most cases involve young women and girls between the ages of 15 and 30.  Forced marriage can place children and young people at risk of rape and possible physical harm.  We are consulting on how professional colleagues can work together to spot the signs of forced marriage and what is the best action to take when they are aware of the situation."

A second consultation has also been launched to support young people who go missing from care or from home.

Professionals working with children who want to respond to either consultation can go to Consultations tab on this site.  The closing date is Friday 19th December.