Issue - meetings

Child Exploitation Working Group Findings Report

 

 

Meeting: 24/07/2024 - Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 10)

10 Child Exploitation Working Group Findings Report pdf icon PDF 133 KB

This report it to advise the Committee on the outcomes of the Child Exploitation Working Group and to request its support for the Recommendations highlighted.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People and Skills presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

 

Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 7 June 2022 received an update on Child Exploitation and following consideration of the information received resolved to commission a Child Exploitation Working Group to consider all areas of child exploitation to include county lines and knife crime. This report provides the findings of the working group.

 

The Committee discussed the report including:

 

  • The Committee highlighted the importance of addressing knife crime as a priority and the importance of the work done in the working group to continue.
  • The Committee discussed the importance of experienced youth workers in tackling child exploitation and highlighted the ongoing complexities around that.
  • The Committee discussed the possibility of creating a new working group that includes young people and that would give young people an opportunity to have a voice in this matter. Additionally, the Committee proposed training sessions for councillors, led by youth representatives to share their insights.
  • The Committee highlighted and discussed the importance of community engagement to help combat this issue.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee:

(a) Note the findings of the Working Group

(b) Continue to monitor this important issue regularly with a view to considering a further working group on this item.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee RECOMMEND to Cabinet:

(c) That partnership working be promoted to ensure increased communication around the issues highlighted with parents, schools, children and youth services.

(d) That earlier age appropriate education be implemented within schools across BCP regarding the risks associated with exploitation, drugs and the dangers of carrying weapons.

 

Voting: Unanimous