(Director of Neighbourhoods) To receive a presentation on safeguarding in relation to Licensing from Officers of the Safer Communities team.
Minutes:
The Safer Communities Manager gave a presentation on Child Sexual Exploitation and Licensing, which covered the following issues:
· What is Child Sexual Exploitation?
· Human Trafficking & Child Sexual Exploitation.
· Consent? – A Child cannot consent to be exploited.
· Whistlestop Tour of Child Sexual Exploitation:
o Perpetrators;
o Indicators of Risk; and
o How the victims are targeted.
· The National Perspective.
· Lessons from Rotherham.
· Partnership Working – Good Practice.
· The Local Perspective.
· Our Role – Epping Forest District Council.
· Conclusion.
The Safer Communities Manager added that meetings were held every six weeks between Essex Police, Licensing Officers and the Community Safety Team to discuss Licensing issues. The Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods (Neighbourhood Services) was the single point of contact for Members to raise any potential safeguarding concerns. The Assistant Director stated that the Police did not always report possible concerns about Taxi Drivers to the Council’s Licensing function. All Taxi Drivers were checked for convictions as a matter of course, but the Police could also advise the Council of other concerns. One idea was for all Taxi Drivers to carry a laminated card including the Council’s contact details for any concerns about a particular driver to be reported.
Cllr Surtees highlighted that there were other risks to children than sexual exploitation, and the Safer Communities Manager advised Members to report any general safeguarding concerns to the Safer Communities Team and the non-emergency 101 Police phone number. The Committee felt that the response from ringing 101 was not always very good, but the Assistant Director emphasised that the 101 Police number was manned 24 hours a day, whereas the Council phone lines were only manned during office hours. Therefore, Members should always use 101.
The Assistant Director reminded the Committee that the Licensing Act 2003 contained provision for the protection of children from harm, but applications for Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver Licences were not covered by that particular piece of legislation. It was suggested that wording could be added to the laminated card that the Driver would be liable for prosecution if caught aiding in the exploitation of young people. The Council wanted the Drivers to report possible issues, and leaflets would be distributed to the Operators within the District. This issue was also being examined by the Public Hire Regulations Working Party.
The involvement of young people in a number of incidents at Limes Farm in Grange Hill was highlighted, including shootings and stabbings. The Community Safety Manager confirmed that Community Safety Officers were aware of the issues at Limes Farm and were urging the Police to take action. There was also work being undertaken to combat gangs, which was a new initiative for Essex. The Committee also highlighted the recent announcement concerning the closure of Police Stations within the Epping Forest District, and the large reduction in Police Community Support Officers within the District.
The Safer Communities Manager informed the Committee that the slides from the presentation were available to any Member who wanted a copy, and the Report of the Inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council February 2015 prepared by Louise Casey CB was also recommended for reading.
Resolved:
(1) That the presentation on Safeguarding in relation to Licensing be noted.