Agenda item

This report provides an update on the actions and progress in identifying and supporting children and young people who are victims of child exploitation and the increased focus that have placed on those who may be vulnerable to exploitation, based on well-known indicators.

The report also highlights the collaborative and close partnership work with the police and other agencies to intervene and disrupt the activities of those who target the most vulnerable children and young people.

The Service Manager, Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service and the Director of Corporate parenting and Permanence 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.

The report provided an update on the actions and progress in identifying and supporting children and young people who were victims of child exploitation and the increased focus that had been placed on those who may be vulnerable to exploitation, based on well-known indicators.

The report also highlighted the collaborative and close partnership work with the police and other agencies to intervene and disrupt the activities of those who target the most vulnerable children and young people.

The Service Manager, referred to the report and wanted to make a correction regarding the Governments drug strategy ‘From Harm to Hope’, highlighted at Paragraph three, it was clarified that where it stated BCP ranked within the top ten nationally, in terms of youth drug use and complex needs, the paper actually referred to specifically Bournemouth and crack and opiate adult use, however it was acknowledged that this did have an impact on the supply and demand within the area, which in turn had a knock on effect for opportunities for young people.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made, including:

• The Committee Member that requested the item expressed concern that there had not been much progress within the last three years with regards to county lines, sexual exploitation and knife crime.  It was suggested that multi agency group would be beneficial to try and progress this and work on a strategy to improve the situation
• The Service Manager acknowledged that there had not been much progress and that the Community Safety Partnership would lead in this area so suggested scrutiny of its work would be a starting point for the Committee
• There was consensus from the Committee that this area needed to have further scrutiny and there were discussions about the way this could be progressed and who should be involved, and the Chair advised he would take this away for further consideration
• The MYP advised the Committee that part of their role was to find out about issues like this and highlighted the findings which they had discovered which included the differing levels of awareness from pupils from different schools which was shown by the amount of information was being provided by schools
• The Portfolio Holder for Council Priorities and Delivery highlighted that under the new Overview and Scrutiny arrangements, the Community Safety Partnership would sit under the new Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee but acknowledged that this Committee was solely interested in the impact these issues had on the children and young people of BCP.  The Chair advised he would discuss this with the Chair of the Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee ACTION.
• The Service Director for Children and Young People referred the Committee to paragraph 20 where it highlighted the proposed plan for the expansion of the safeguarding team in BCP to ensure wider multi agency working and be positive for better collaborative working.
• In response to a query regarding the Safeguarding team relocating to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub, it was confirmed that where they will be based had not been decided yet and it was acknowledged that there would be issues surrounding security of them being located in the MASH, however the Committee was reassured that their location would not hinder the multi agency working.

It was Proposed and Seconded and agreed by the Committee that in depth scrutiny in this area was required.  The details of the method to be determined with an update to be brought to the November Committee. ACTION

The Chair summarised discussions as follows:

• What had happened and how work was moving forward, the Committee expressed disappointment in the lack of movement
• Agreed to do a deep dive into the issue – send out and invite everyone, feedback outcome in November Committee
• Brief discussion on location of Safeguarding team.

RESOLVED that the in-depth scrutiny in this area be arranged with an update to be brought to the November Committee.