Source: UK Government 

Date: 04 January 2022

The UK Government has announced new measures targeted at keeping women and girls safer in England and Wales that will be added to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. The measures include: victims of domestic abuse will be allowed more time to report incidents of common assault or battery against them; the overall time limit to commence prosecutions for common assault and battery will be increased to within two years of the offence; and taking non-consensual photographs or video recordings of breastfeeding mothers will be a specific offence punishable by up to two years in prison. The government also intends to build on plans to increase sentences for sexual offences. 

Read the press release: Domestic abuse victims in England and Wales to be given more time to report assaults

See also on NSPCC Learning 
> Protecting children from domestic abuse

Source: Department for Education 

Date: 05 December 2021

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that there will be an independent national review, led by the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, into the circumstances leading up to the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. A Joint Targeted Area Inspection, led jointly by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and HM Inspectorate of Probation, has also been commissioned to consider where improvements are needed.

Read the news story: Government action following murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes

Source: NSPCC Learning

Date: 08 November 2021

NSPCC Learning has reviewed and updated its information and resources to help professionals working with children and young people who have displayed problematic or harmful sexual behaviour, including peer-on-peer sexual abuse. Topics covered include: how to recognise what sexual behaviours are harmful, how to manage incidents of problematic or harmful sexual behaviour and support children involved, and how to ensure safeguarding policies and procedures include information about problematic and harmful sexual behaviour.

Visit the webpages: Harmful sexual behaviour

Source: Tackling Child Exploitation
Date: 22 October 2021

The Tackling Child Exploitation (TCE) Programme has launched a series of free online learning events focused on child exploitation and extra-familial harm. The events are designed for strategic leaders and senior managers across the multi-agency partnership.

View programme of events: Learning events

See also on NSPCC Learning 
> Protecting children from sexual exploitation