When I read a BBC article about Violence against Women recently I was alarmed about the increase in prosecutions in 2014/2015. It said that A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) report in June 2015 showed more than 107,000 prosecutions in the year to April. An increase of 16,000 (18%) on the previous year. The figures are for crimes “primarily” against women, but male victims are also included.”
Continue reading Joining the dots – sexual violence, gangs and sexting
Can localism work during a time of huge public sector funding cuts? It’s a question that goes to the heart of front line service delivery.
A few months ago Olly Martins, Bedfordshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner, devised what he thought was a practical way to fund 100 more police officers for front line duty in the county. He argued these additional services were required to deliver basic levels of policing in times of austerity and cuts.
Continue reading Localism: is it putting children and vulnerable adults at risk?
When three teenage girls flew to Syria to join Islamic State earlier this year, there was a lot of soul searching across the UK.
Newspapers claimed Britain was losing the battle to stop extremists radicalising young people online through chat rooms and social media networks.
Continue reading How to combat the online radicalisation of young people
In the UK and internationally the face of public services has changed dramatically in the past three decades. This is as a result of political beliefs and fast moving government policies that impact on provision in the wake of the financial crisis.
Continue reading Effective safeguarding of children is everybody’s business
Most things are socially defined by what people say or do, or how they are in their social groups and teams.
Through the eyes of a child, all professionals “are all simply adults with authority”. They do not necessarily see or understand professional training, status, qualifications or experience. They also do not necessarily understand the complexities involved in keeping them safe from harm or support delivered through partnership arrangements.
Continue reading To build change you need a whole systems view on partnerships