Safeguarding Priorities and Themes

Southwark council and its partners are committed to tackling and preventing the sexual exploitation of children and young people. The partnership operates within the London Child Exploitation Protocol. 

Raise Awareness

Southwark council has launched a campaign to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE) amongst young people aged 14 to 16. The aim of the campaign is to increase understanding of what CSE is, how to recognise the signs and how to get help if a young person believes they or their friends are being sexually exploited.

A series of posters and a leaflet have been designed which you can download and help us to raise awareness of CSE, by simply printing them out and displaying them in a prominent position around your premises.

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Stop-It-Now-Helpline-Leaflet

Please visit the Southwark Council website for information about DoLS. The DoLS team can be contacted at dols@southwark.gov.uk, or by calling 020 7525 1754.

Domestic abuse and how to get help

According to research, one in four women and one in six men in the UK will be the victims of domestic abuse during their lifetime. Domestic abuse can affect people of any age, including older people.  

On average, two women in England and Wales are killed every week by a current or former male partner.

Domestic abuse can be:

• physical- when someone uses violence against you
• emotional - such as name calling, stalking, blackmailing or using your children against you
• sexual - such as forcing you to have intimate physical contact
• financial - such as controlling your access to money, how you spend your money or not allowing you to get a job

Controlling and coercive behaviour is now a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.

Controlling behaviour includes:

• isolating you from others
• financial abuse
• making you feel worthless
• controlling who you see and what you wear
• monitoring your time

Southwark Council’s #oktotalk video highlights the early alarm bells we all need to be aware of to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Please watch and share.

It's important to remember that you're not to blame for any kind of abuse and there's help available to make you and your children safe and to get your life back on track.

How to get help

If you are in immediate danger, always call the police on 999.

If you're a victim of any kind of domestic abuse, there are services that can help.

From 6th February 2023, Refuge is delivering domestic and sexual violence community-based services in Southwark. 

Refuge is the largest specialist domestic abuse organisation in the UK. On any given day their services support thousands of survivors, helping them to overcome the physical, emotional, financial, and logistical impacts of abuse and rebuild their lives - free from fear.

Domestic Abuse Resources:

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Nacro-Agency-Referral-AA2

Recognising-and-responding-to-domestic-violence-and-abuse

Safe-Later-Lives-Older-people-and-domestic-abuse

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What is FGM?

FGM is an illegal, extremely harmful practice and a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls. The World Health Organization defines female genital mutilation (FGM) as:

 "all procedures (not operations) which involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons."

FGM has been a criminal offence in the UK since the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 was passed. The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 and the Serious Crime Act 2015 have further extended this to protect children who may be taken abroad to undergo FGM and charge offenders.

To help professionals, Southwark have developed decision-making flow charts for FGM. These can be downloaded from the left sidebar.

The multi-agency guidelines for those with statutory duties to safeguard children and vulnerable adults have recently been updated. Read the updated guidance.

Accessing Support

National FGM Support Clinics are a place for women with FGM to discuss their health needs in a sensitive and non-judgmental environment.

The services are provided by an all-female team and include:

• physical assessments and treatment (including deinfibulation if required)
• emotional support and counselling
• general information
• access to FGM Health Advocates
• referral to a specialist consultant, if needed

Click here to find your nearest clinic. More information is also available in this document.

FGM Resources:

Adult Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) pathway - November 2018

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) centres

Child Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Pathway

Holiday Letter re Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) risk - Summer 2019

Multi-agency risk assessment flowchart Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

All types of violence and exploitation have a negative effect on all those who live, work and visit Southwark. The Council and partners are committed to supporting all sections of the community to address these issues. We want to provide information to give brief guidance so that people can get the help they need to make Southwark a safer and better place for all.

Some young and vulnerable people can be get caught up in developing forms of criminal and financial exploitation. Examples of this include “County Lines” which is when drug gangs expand their operations to other areas, often using violence to drive out local dealers and exploiting children and vulnerable people to deliver and sell drugs.

“Squares” or “Deets and Squares” is a form of money laundering where the proceeds of criminal activity is channelled through an often vulnerable person’s bank account. Often the payment that they receive is subsequently described as a loan and used as a lever to make them transport drugs.

Where to get help

• Parents and carers can speak to the Youth Offending Service (YOS) on 020 7525 0900 if they are concerned that their child is “at risk of offending”. A member of the YOS team will be able to discuss the level of support that can be offered on a voluntary basis or suggest referral to other support services.
• If there is a crime being committed or someone is in immediate danger people should call 999. If they have some information about a crime we would ask that they call the police on 101. Further information is available here.
• If people have a knife that they want to surrender safely there are bins at the following sites:
         These are operated by the charity Word4Weapons. 
  • Sainsbury's Dulwich, 80 Dog Kennel Hill SE22 8BB
  • Latter Rain Outpouring Revival Church, 50 Copleston Road SE15 4AD
  • Another knife bin is located at Walworth Police Station, 12-28 Manor Place, Walworth, London SE17 3BB

• If people feel unable to report crimes to the police directly they can make an anonymous report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
• Parents and carers can make a difference by talking through the issues with their children. Click here for guidance about how to approach this issue.
• If as a parent you need further confidential support to deal with these issues you can call Family Lives (formerly ParentLine) on 0808 800 2222.
• We know that incidents can lead to feelings and stress that are difficult to cope with; you can contact your GP or the NHS on 111. Click here for more information about accessing NHS services. You can also contact Victim Support on 020 7277 1433.
• If you have concerns for the welfare or safety of a child at risk from knife crime, violence or exploitation you can make a referral to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 020 7525 1921, or email mash@southwark.gov.uk. The MASH consists of the council and partners who will assess the risk and work out the best way to keep the child safe.

Other services which can provide help and advice are listed in the attached document.

Specified authorities in England and Wales have the duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.

Download the Home Office Prevent duty guidance here.