Safeguarding

FGM Act 2003 and the Law

“Female genital mutilation comprises all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It has no health benefits and harms girls and women in many ways”. Statement from the World Health Organization, 2011

Child protection: The FGM law protects girls and women who are either British nationals or UK permanent residents and prevents their parents or guardians from taking them outside of the UK for FGM. ALL girls, however, no matter their immigration status, are protected while they reside in the UK from FGM and all other forms of child abuse through the UK Child Protection laws and the FGM Act of 2003. FGM is considered to be a form of child abuse. Local authorities may take action against it under section 47 of the Children Act 1989; they can apply to the courts for various orders to prevent a child being taken abroad for FGM.

It is illegal for a girl or woman living in the UK to have FGM either at home or abroad. The maximum penalty for anyone organising or carrying out FGM is 14 years in prison.

For more information contact: FORWARD – The Foundation for Women’s Health, Research and Development – for Africa women & girls. Tel: 020 8960 4000 www.forwarduk.org.uk or access local guidelines at www.ddscp.org.uk

What if you are worried that someone is at risk of FGM?

If you are worried that you, your friend, or your sister is at risk of FGM here in the UK or of being taken abroad for FGM, it is very important that you do something to stop FGM from taking place. Remember, FGM is against the law and is harmful to girls. Sometimes the warning signs may only be rumours, but it may be worth telling someone to be on the safe side. You will only be seen to be helping in the long run.

Take immediate action:

· You can get help and advice. Do not stay silent.

· Talk to a trusted adult about the situation – a teacher, school nurse, GP, family friend or close relative

· Call the contact numbers at the back of this information guide

· Contact Children and Young People’s Services at your local council

· Speak to the Police Child Protection Team

· If the girl is at immediate risk, call the police on 999

· If you are abroad you can still contact the nearest British Consulate, Embassy, or High Commission for help.

Professionals are required to treat any reported case of FGM as a child protection issue and start a child protection referral. This means that Children’s Services will treat this as a serious concern and organise a meeting to assess the case. This investigation will also try to find out if other siblings in the family are at risk. Parents may be part of this meeting to discuss the concern. A girl will not automatically be taken away from her home. This will ONLY happen in rare cases when the parents fail to guarantee that they will not cut their daughter. Many professionals will be involved in a child protection case. They include teachers, nurses, children’s services, the police and voluntary organisations. They all have a duty to help stop FGM in the UK.

As parents/carers you may well have seen news items referring to the threat of County Lines with respect to school children. The term county lines refers to urban gangs supplying drugs to suburban areas, as well as market and coastal towns, by using dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines”. Gangs use children and vulnerable people to move drugs and money to these areas. Once caught up in county lines, exploited individuals are at risk of extreme physical and/or sexual violence, gang recriminations and trafficking.

As part of the Serious Violence Strategy, the Home Office is helping to raise awareness of county lines among frontline staff including teachers, health workers and those who work in the transport, housing and security sectors. These people are most likely to encounter individuals at risk. This will help staff spot potential victims and report concerns in order to safeguard our young people more effectively.

A young person who is involved in county lines activity might show some of these signs:

• Persistently going missing from school or home, or being found out-of-area
• Unexplained acquisition of money, clothes or mobile phones
• Excessive receipt of texts or phone calls
• Relationships with controlling, older individuals or gang association
• Parental concerns, and leaving home or care without explanation
• Suspicion of self-harm, physical assault or unexplained injuries
• Significant decline in school performance and changes in emotional well-being

Below you will find a guidance booklet to help raise awareness of county lines. If you have any concerns about your child being at risk of criminal exploitation contact us at school for further guidance and support.

Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines

From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

What is the Prevent strategy?

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.

What is the Prevent Duty?

The Prevent Duty is the duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 on schools, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism

What it means for St Philip Howard

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.

· Our staff are expected to be able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation, and know what to do when they are identified.

· Our school can build student’s resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views.

· Our school will provide a safe space in which children, young people and staff can understand the risks associated with terrorism and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge extremist arguments.

Link to thinkuknow https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/Parents/