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Prevent in Warwickshire

Warwickshire is a relatively safe place to live, and most crime types are continuing to reduce. However, we also live in a global community which means we are affected by trends and events that occur at the international level. At present, we need to consider the international threat of terrorism and those people who are pulled into groups that support extremist causes.

In Warwickshire, authorities and communities are working together to deliver the Government’s Prevent Strategy. Prevent is one of four objectives which make up the Government’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism – CONTEST.

The Prevent Strategy has three key objectives:

  1. Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it;
  2. Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support; and
  3. Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation which we need to address. It is set up to challenge all forms of terrorism, including the influence of far right and far left extremists. It defines extremism as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs”.

Prevent operates in a pre-criminal space, providing support and re-direction to vulnerable individuals at risk of being groomed into terrorist activities before any crimes are committed. Radicalisation could be comparable to other forms of harm and abuse. It is therefore considered a safeguarding issue and thought of alongside the wider safeguarding agenda.

A local action plan has been developed to implement the Prevent Strategy in Warwickshire and in particular to implement the new Prevent and Channel legislation.

The action plan is owned by the multi-agency Warwickshire Prevent Working Group which reports into the Safer Warwickshire Partnership Board.

Prevent Action Plan 2019/21

Channel is a key element of the Prevent Strategy. It is a multi-agency approach to identifying and providing support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism.

Information on the work of the Warwickshire Channel Panel can be found on the Safe In Warwickshire Prevent website within the "how to make a referral" section.

If you need to make a referral, please download the referral form here:

Prevent Referral Form

To understand the pathway process for Channel Panel referral system, click below:

Warwickshire Channel Panel Pathway

Training courses are available throughout the year as follows:

Workshop to Raise Awareness on Prevent (WRAP) is an awareness raising session ‘Workshop to Raise Awareness on Prevent’ available to communities, individuals, professionals, agencies, partners and commissioned services.

Prevent Update Training.

The Prevent Duty was established in 2015 and since that time many people have attended the Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent. However the changing nature of the threat and risk associated with Violent extremism means that we need to refresh our understanding of how vulnerable individuals can be radicalised and how we can work together to challenge this. A new training course has been prepared for this purpose, and covers:-

  • A brief overview of the Prevent Duty
  • The current priorities and risks in Warwickshire
  • The signs and symbols associated with extremism
  • The impact of online grooming
  • The support that’s available and how to access it
  • The training takes 1hr 30mins and is a practical guide to the Prevent Duty for practioners. It is suitable for those staff that have attended WRAP previously and need a refresh as well as those who are new to Prevent.

Train the Trainer is on offer for those who would like to train others in the Workshop To Raise Awareness on Prevent (WRAP).

Group or team training sessions on WRAP can be arranged at a time convenient to yourselves, to organise this please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Training for Council Service Providers/Contractors in Warwickshire

The Council has a responsibility to ensure individuals are not subject to radicalisation from any ideology and in addition are not drawn into acts of terrorism. The council retains that same responsibility even when services are delivered for them by others in a commissioned arrangement.

WRAP training and Prevent Update training is on offer to local commissioned services and providers. See flyer below:

Commissioned Services Prevent Training Flyer

For further information on Prevent Training, go to the Safe in Warwickshire website for up to date information.


For more information on Prevent in Warwickshire you can
:

If you have any worries or concerns, or would like more information on Prevent and the signs and behaviours, please contact Geoff Thomas Prevent Officer at Warwickshire County Council on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In an emergency, call 999. 

Exploitation

ExploitationBanner

Definition of Exploitation

When an individual or group unfairly takes advantage of a person to coerce, manipulate or deceive for personal gain, that is exploitation.

Exploitation is abuse. 

Types of Exploitation

Exploitation is complex.  In many circumstances, a person may not fit into just one of the below definitions and there may be crossovers.

 

Criminal exploitation often comes with the promise of something desired as a reward meaning the victim often pursues without knowing they are being groomed and exploited. The current reality is that often these young people are seen as criminals and not victims.

County lines has become a prevalent form of CCE.  Which includes children forced to work in cannabis factories, being coerced to ‘plug’ and move drugs or money across the country. Children are also manipulated into committing fraud, shoplifting and gang violence which entraps the child, perpetuating the cycle of criminality.

Often children who are being exploited themselves will become the exploiter.  In cases of peer-on-peer exploitation, a power balance still drives the relationship which may not necessarily be the result of an age gap between abuser and abused.

Futher reading on county lines can be found here

 

Sexual exploitation is when an induvial is taken advantage of sexually in return for gifts, food, drugs, alcohol, money, love and attention or coerced via threats and violence. Due to an imbalance of power, children are at greatest risk of sexual exploitation. This is even greater if the child has a complex home life or a physical or learning disability. All genders are at risk of sexual exploitation.

These three elements all form part of trafficking:

    • The act: recruiting, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons
    • The means: threat, force, fraud, coercion, deception
    • The purpose: exploitation

Trafficking is not always an international transfer of people. Trafficking in the UK includes commercial, sexual and bonded labour. People often suffer violence, sexual abuse and threats towards their families.  They have little choice what happens to them becoming commodities owned by traffickers, used for profit.

 

Modern slavery occurs when people are coerced into situations where there is little to no pay, often with threats of punishment or held over debt bondage. Each case of modern slavery can look different as there is no typical victim.

Frequently hidden from sight or under the guise of a legitimate business, victims are modern slavery often faced by more than one form of exploitation.  This can include but is not limited to:

    • Sexual exploitation – forced prostitution
    • Forced labour
    • Domestic servitude – including sexual / physical abuse
    • Criminal exploitation
    • Illegal adoption - selling a child for domestic servitude 
    • Other exploitation such as forced begging, forced marriage, illegal adoption, organ removal

 

Previously referred to a 'cuckooing', home invasion is a term used when a gang takes over a vulnerable person’s home as a base for criminal activity.  Home invasion is often part of wider county lines activity and criminal exploitation.

 

Criminals use the internet to groom or bully people on social media, text apps and online games. They will abuse their power to make the victim do sexual or criminal things leading to risks of blackmail and coercion.  2020 saw a significant increase in online grooming for child criminal exploitation - including county lines.

Further information and guidance can be found on our Keeping Children Safe Online page

Radicalisation is not about a specific faith or demographic.  The profile or single indicator of when a person may adopt extremist and a violent ideology is not obvious.  The process is different for each individual.  A vunerable young person or adult will change their perception and beliefs due to being exposed to extremist influence which may result in extremist actions.  The exposure may be online, through publications and literature or direct one to one contact. Radicalisation can happen over an extended or short period of time. There often involves an element of exploitation and criminal activity.

Extremism is to actively oppose British values including democracy, individual liberty and mutural respect of different faiths and beliefs. Extremism can be domestic - such as those with a far-right ideology conducting criminal acts to futher their campaign.  Extremism can be violent.  Violent extremism refers to the activity an individual or group conducts by any means to glory or justify terrorist violence. This also include those whom foster hatred for the purpose and aim of inter-community tension and violence.

Information on Warwickshire's Prevent Strategy can be found here

ACT is aimed at family and friends to encourage them to share concerns that a friend or loved one might be vulnerable to radicalisation. The site can be accessed here

 

 

Vulnerable children and adults are likely to be targets of opportunistic exploitation.  It happens quickly without any grooming. Children who have regular missing episodes, who are out late at night in adult environments or adults who abuse substances are high risk.  They may be offered accommodation, drugs or alcohol in exchange for sexual activity.

Although it is recognised that not every person who goes missing is vulnerable to exploitation, research has illustrated that due to their circumstances, there can be an association between those who go missing and harm.  This is especially prevalent with Children in Care who have missing episodes. Warwickshire Safeguarding Partnership and Partners have developed a informational pack which aims to provide useful information around responding to risks faced by children and young people (CYP) in care who may be vulnerable to going missing. Download a copy here

 

The Impact of Exploitation

Exploitation in its forms can have a long lasting impact on a person’s life.  This may include:

  • Suicide attempts
  • Substance abuse
  • Experience homelessness
  • Become isolated from friends and family
  • Take part in criminal behaviour
  • Struggle to trust and form new relationships
  • Mental health problems

 If you are worried that somebody you know is feeling suicidal, help and guidance can be found at https://www.dearlife.org.uk/

Spotting the Signs

Children:

Hundreds of children in Warwickshire are victims of child exploitation every year.  It is a crime that can affect any child anywhere, anytime regardless of their social or ethnic background or gender. Learn how to spot the signs:

  • Receiving unexpected and expensive gifts/money or being given things like cigarettes and alcohol
  • Hanging out with older people or being picked up from school by strangers
  • Using drugs and drinking alcohol, mood swings, self-harming or staying out late
  • Sometimes disappearing or going missing, or being secretive about where they’re going
  • Being secretive with a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, or other electronic advice
  • Illustrating harmful sexual behaviour
  • Injuries that cannot be explained
  • Decline in school results and performance
  • Girls asking for the pill
  • Presenting with sexually transmitted infections

For guidance and help if you think a child is being exploited visit https://www.somethingsnotright.co.uk/

PACE (Parents Against Child Exploitation) is an organisation that supports parents and carers whose children are being exploited by offenders outside of the family https://paceuk.info/

Adults:

Signs of various types of slavery and exploitation are often hidden, making it hard to recognise potential victims. Victims can be any age, gender or ethnicity or nationality.

Whilst by no means exhaustive, this is a list of some common signs:

  • An adult is not in possession of their legal documents (passport, identification and bank account details) and they are being held by someone else
  • Old or serious untreated injuries - they are vague, reluctant or inconsistent in explaining how the injury occurred
  • The adult looks malnourished, unkempt, or appears withdrawn or frightened. They are unable to answer questions directed at them or speak for themselves and/or an accompanying third party speaks for them. If they do speak, they are inconsistent in the information they provide, including basic facts such as the address where they live
  • They have few personal possessions and often wear the same clothes
  • Unsuitable clothing or equipment for work
  • They appear under the control/influence of others, rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work. Many victims will not be able to speak English
  • Fearful of authorities
  • The adult perceives themselves to be in debt to someone else or in a situation of dependence

There is a national framework to assist in the formal identification and help to coordinate the referral of victims to appropriate services, known as the National Referral Mechanism. Certain public bodies such as local authorities and chief officers of Police have a statutory duty to refer. More information about the National Referral Mechanism can be found here.

 Prevention

Know the signs

Use appropriate language

Intelligence sharing - If something doesn’t seem right and you have concerns, report it

Signposting 

 

Somethings_Not_Right.jpg   Compass   Barnardos Believe in ChildrenLogo   Safeline
ROSA   St Giles   101   Childline
NSPCC   PRISM   Warwickshire Pride   CRASAC
Safe in Warwickshire   YBMen Project   Prevent    

 

 

Further Reading

Assessing the extent of exploitation in Warwickshire is a challenge due to the hidden nature of the activity and significant under reporting. The following reports provide an overview of Exploitation in Warwickshire and what is support is being delivered.

Child Exploitation and Missing Children Service Annual Report  - 2020-21

Child Exploitation by Organised Networks – Published 2022

Warwickshire Safeguarding; Exploitation Strategy – 2020 -2023

 

 

 

Making Safeguarding Personal

Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) is a shift in culture and practice in response to what we now know about what makes safeguarding more or less effective from the perspective of the person being safeguarded. It is about having conversations with people about how we might respond in safeguarding situations in a way that enhances involvement, choice and control as well as improving quality of life, wellbeing and safety. It is about seeing people as experts in their own lives and working alongside them. It is a shift from a process supported by conversations to a series of conversations supported by a process.

The key focus is on developing a real understanding of what people wish to achieve, agreeing, negotiating and recording their desired outcomes, working out with them (and their representatives or advocates if they lack capacity) how best those outcomes might be realised and then seeing, and at the end, the extent to which desired outcomes have been realised.

For professionals who work with adults we have the following ‘Making Safeguarding Personal Toolkit’;

The toolkit is set out in a modular format with a summary of key areas. These areas range from models, theories and approaches to skills and areas of specialism that safeguarding practitioners need to be aware of. It can be used as a practitioner guide for pointers on how to respond to individual cases, or as a starting point resource for service development. It has been designed as a resource that will develop over time and allow updates and amendments to be made as development takes place or innovative and effective practice comes to light.

Click this link for an electronic copy of the toolkit.

For more information about making safeguarding personal see:
Local Government Association website www.local.gov.uk
SCIE website www.scie.org.uk
ADASS website www.adass.org.uk

Useful information

This is the place where Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Board will input information you may find useful in regards to Safeguarding in Warwickshire.

After reading some of the crime prevention booklets produced by the police, Christopher Langman, who has learning difficulties himself, wanted to help share the information with those who may find it hard to understand the advice, also including those who do not speak English as their first language.

Christopher was assisted in producing the booklet by his support worker Natalie Bull, who helped him translate the topics and lay them out in an easy-to-read format.

The Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Board have happily agreed to share and support Christopher's work in the hopes that it will increase understanding on certain Safeguarding topics for those with learning disabilities or difficulties, as well as those who do not speak English as their first language.
To download a copy, just click on the below titles:

 

The aims and objectives of this document and associated learning provides information in the following areas: -
> Identifying risk and vulnerability to fire
> The importance to include the risk of fire at initial assessment and care plan design
> When and how to refer to WFRS including what support and services are available

Click here to download the Guidance.
Click here to read more about Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service.

 

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service: Protecting residents and local businesses from scams and frauds

Everyday, even in the safety of our own homes, we are all contacted by people trying to persuade us to part with our money. Some are honest and reputable, some are not. It can be very difficult to tell the difference.

We might get a knock at the door from someone offering to clean our gutters, fix a loose roof tile or resurface our driveway. Through the post we may receive prize draws, competition or lottery schemes requiring us to pay an upfront “admin fee” for our entry. When the phone rings it might be someone trying to sell PPI, solar panels or miracle health supplements. Even on the Internet we are constantly bombarded with bogus emails.

Warwickshire Trading Standards seeks to support local residents and businesses both by awareness raising and targeted enforcement action. Whilst we are all targeted by scams and fraudsters from time to time, most of us are able to identify the scam when we see it and deal with it accordingly. Unfortunately, a minority of vulnerable Warwickshire residents struggle to do this and therefore may be at a greater risk of falling for a scam or rogue trader. These vulnerable individuals are often targeted again and again.

To help protect vulnerable people living in Warwickshire, Trading Standards utilises a number of enforcement tools including a rapid response service, No Rogue Trader Zones and postal and telephone scam interventions to help those most at risk and in need.

Please watch this video by Hereford Trading Standards and Citizens Advice on "How to Avoid Doorstep Crime and Rogue Traders"

You can also read these Case Studies by Warwickshire Trading Standards of Door Step Crime and Scam Mail.

 

Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Board have created an 'Easy Read Guide' on Keeping Adults Safe from Abuse and Nelgect. This guide is ideal for someone who's first language may not be English, or for someone with a learning disability, as this guide gives a basic outline of what Safeguarding means using visual representations. We hope you find this guide useful. Please click here to download it.

 

Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Board have created informative flyers providing information on the different forms of abuse. We hope you find these flyers useful and eye-opening to the different forms of abuse. Please click here to download them. 

 

Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Board have created a guidance for Councillors on Safeguarding Adults at risk of abuse or negect, to view it, click here.

 

Independent Age's free guides and factsheets are full of information to help you boost your income, find the care you need, remain independent, choose the right place to live, stay connected with others, and more.

To view and download these guides and factsheets, go to their website by clicking here.

 

EQuIP is the Equality and Inclusion Partnership, a charity working across Warwickshire to promote promote equality and diversity. They have been providing support, advice and training to Warwickshire for over 10 years. Formerly known as the Warwickshire Race Equality Partnership, EQuIP became the Equality and Inclusion Partnership in 2017, when they expanded their services to cover everyone who experiences discrimination.

They are a charity providing support, advice and training to people across Warwickshire to combat discrimination.They work alongside local groups, businesses and organisations, helping to build understanding and cohesion throughout the Warwickshire community through individual support and advice, group learning and tailored training courses.

To learn more about EQuIP and the great work they do within Warwickshire, then go to their website by click on the link; EQuIP

 

The Modern Slavery Police Transformation Unit (MSPTU) have produced 3 informative posters which we would like to share with you, they are:

There is no one type of Modern Slavery

There is no one type of Modern Slavery Offender

There is no one type of Modern Slavery Victim

Please feel free to download these posters to put up in your workplace. For further information about Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, please go to our webpage by clicking here.

 

 

 

Carers information and support

A carer is someone who spends a significant proportion of their time providing unpaid support to a family member, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.

It's not always easy to spot the symptoms of abuse. Someone being abused may make excuses for why they're bruised, they don't want to go out or talk to people, or they're short of money.

It's important to know the signs of abuse and, where they are identified, gently share your concerns with the person being abused. If you wait, hoping the person will tell you what's been happening to them, you could delay matters and allow the abuse to continue.

To find out more go to our ‘Recognising and Reporting Abuse’ page. This page tells you the different forms of abuse they may be experiencing, and who and where to contact if you are concerned.


The risk of deterioration in carers’ health and well-being as a result of their caring duties is well-understood. This can be seen as the ‘price of caring’. However, sometimes the behaviour of the person being cared for, intentionally or not, can fall in the category of abuse. Responding to carers who may be at risk of harm can be challenging and can be complicated by a carers’ denial, guilt or a sense of shame in asking for help.


Risk of abuse can increase where the carer is isolated and not getting practical and/or emotional support from their family, friends, professionals or paid carers.

Carer abuse/harm is more likely to occur when communication and relationships are difficult and, in particular where one/some of the following issues affect the person cared for:-

  • Has health and care needs that exceed the carer’s ability to meet them; especially where this has gone on for a long time
  • Does not consider the needs of the carer or family members
  • Treats the carer with a lack of respect of courtesy
  • Rejects help and support from outside; including breaks
  • Refuses to be left alone at any time
  • Has control over financial resources, property and living arrangements
  • Engages in abusive, aggressive or frightening behaviours
  • Has a history of substance misuse, usual or offensive behaviours
  • Does not understand how what they do has an impact on their carer
  • Is angry about their situation and seeks to punish others for it
  • Has sought help or support but did not meet thresholds for this

Such risk factors tend to be greater where the carer lives with a person with dementia or is a partner or close relative.



If you are a carer and are at risk of harm from the person you care for, speak to a person you trust, for example, your friends, family, GP, nurse or social worker.


 

If you require more information, we recommend you have a look at the Warwickshire County Council’s website, or for further support and guidance get in contact with Guideposts to see how they can help you.

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