Latest news with #CaseyReview
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hull City Council calls for end to 'out-of-town' taxi licensing
Calls have been made to close a legal "loophole" that allows taxi drivers licenced in other areas to operate in City Council members have unanimously called for new government legislation to bring to an end "out-of-town" taxi licensing, which they see as a safeguarding application process for getting a private hire vehicle licence differs between councils, with the fees and the level of vehicle standards set by each Dolman, chairman of the city council's licensing committee, said the current system meant the authority was left "with a lack of control over who operates on our streets and who transports our residents". According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, at this month's full council meeting Labour Group leader Daren Hale brought forward an emergency motion calling for government action to close the "loop hole", which he described as an "absolute travesty".Similar concerns have been raised in Lincolnshire recently by South Kesteven District motion in Hull follows the release of the recent Casey Review on grooming gangs, which included the tightening of taxi licensing rules as one of its hackney carriages, private hire vehicles are not confined to operating within the borders of the authority where they are licensed. Safeguarding concerns Hale's motion specifically referred to City of Wolverhampton Council, which has made headlines due to its licensed drivers popping up across the country on a seemingly disproportionate motion stated it should be a mandatory requirement for licensees to operate within the areas where their licences are who seconded Hale's motion, said: "Without a doubt the largest issue our fantastic drivers raise is that of Wolverhampton taxis and the safeguarding concerns that come with them."A spokesperson for the Wolverhampton council said safeguarding was "our number one priority in taxi licensing".It said it was the only local authority that checked the Disclosure and Barring Service database every day and it was the first authority to offer driver licence checks by smartphone, allowing passengers to verify a driver's status and identity before getting in."We welcome any measures from government to help tackle the important matter of safeguarding," the spokesperson added."We work in partnership with Hull City Council and have carried out 23 operations over the last three years, checking 206 vehicles."They added that it was illegal for the council to refuse an application for a taxi licence on the basis of where they live and for licensing authorities to impose a limit on the number of private hire licences issued. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scots law ‘grey area' may let men avoid teen rape charges
Although the age of consent is 16, the peer said the law in England and Wales had created space where adult men groom and exploit children and then rely on this perceived consent to avoid the most serious charges. READ MORE: In response, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons that the UK Government would change the law to ensure adults who engage in penetrative sex with anyone under 16 face a mandatory charge of rape. MSPs have now called for a similar move in Scotland, where the law also makes a distinction between children under 13—where consent is not a defence—and those aged 13 to 15. The Tories said failing to do so could lead to Scotland "becoming a safe haven for child abusers". Although sexual activity with anyone under 16 is illegal under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, decisions about whether to prosecute, and what offence to charge, are left to the discretion of prosecutors. Baroness Louise Casey said too many men were seeing their charges downgradedFactors such as age difference, relationship history, and evidence of coercion or grooming are all taken into account. In 2023, 70-year-old William Melville was jailed for five years for having sex with a teenager behind an Aldi in Glasgow city centre. Because the girl was 13, he was charged with having sex with an 'older child'. In countries including France or Sweden, Melville would automatically have been charged with rape. Sharon Dowey, the Scottish Conservative shadow minister for victims and community safety, told The Herald: 'The Casey Review revealed some cases which will have deeply troubled the public and parents, given the age of those involved. 'They will be worried that the same grey area in the law could still exist up here where those who have sexually abused teenagers are not properly punished. 'If the rules down south are changed in light of these harrowing cases, then the law must be tightened up in Scotland as well to avoid any possibility of us becoming a safe haven for child abusers.' READ MORE: In her National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Baroness Casey said the "grey area" in the law was "largely aimed at avoiding criminalising someone who reasonably believed a child was older than they were or criminalising relationships between teenagers". However, she said this practice led to 'perverse outcomes'. 'We were told of one case involving a 15-year-old vulnerable child who had been sexually exploited by an older man who had used the 'boyfriend model' to groom her. 'Their relationship was well known to local services and the police who tried to disrupt it, but she was insistent she was in love with the older man and did not want to leave him or support a prosecution. 'Despite having substantial evidence that they were having sex, including images on both of their phones and hotel room bookings, the fact she was 'in love' with him, said she had consented and would not support the prosecution led to the case not making it to court." Baroness Casey said several years on, the girl—now an adult—realised she was a victim of child sexual exploitation, and had gone back to police to make allegations against the man. In 2021, France adopted legislation which characterised all sex with a child under the age of consent—15—as rape. Previously, prosecutors had been required to prove the act was non-consensual. The French Government introduced a 'Romeo and Juliet' clause allowing for sexual relations between a child and an individual up to five years older. Similarly, in Sweden, if a person has sex with someone under 15, it is legally defined as 'rape against a child' even if the child agreed at the time. In the Commons on Monday, Ms Cooper told MPs: 'We will change the law to ensure that adults who engage in penetrative sex with a child under 16 face the most serious charge of rape, and we will work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and the police to ensure that there are safeguards for consensual teenage relationships.' A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland's independent public prosecution service, said: 'The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will, alongside our partners, pursue and prosecute those who sexually exploit children. We continuously review our approach to prosecuting sexual offenders. 'As an independent prosecution service, COPFS apply existing law in Scotland and would contribute to appropriate discussion of legislative reform. 'There is a wide range of criminal conduct which can be considered as sexual offending. 'Prosecutors are committed to listening to children and using their experience and understanding of child sexual exploitation to build strong cases which reflect the behaviour of offenders. We consistently and successfully prosecute those who commit child abuse.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Child sexual abuse and exploitation has a devastating impact, which is why we are taking action to ensure that children are protected from harm. We have also established a national multi-agency Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group, to consider all UK and Scottish work and make recommendations to Ministers accordingly. 'The independent Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is undertaking an extensive review of child protection policy and practice in Scotland and will report with recommendations for further development in due course. "In the meantime, it is crucial to focus efforts and resource on working with partners across the system to support embedding and implementation of the National Child Protection Guidance and providing a trauma-informed response to victims.'
Spectator
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Can you ‘take the politics out' of the grooming gangs scandal?
Yesterday Yvette Cooper announced a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal after the Casey Review found that a disproportionate number of Asian men were responsible and that governments and authorities had failed to step in over fears of racism. Anxious to press Labour on their U-turn – memorably, Starmer accused the Tories of 'jumping on the far-right bandwagon' – Kemi Badenoch held a press conference, joined by victims of the gangs. 'I'm not doing politics now, when I'm in the Houses of Parliament, when I'm in the Commons, I will do politics', she said. But can you really take the politics out of the grooming gangs scandal? Elsewhere, Donald Trump has fled the G7. Although this isn't the first time he has cut a G7 visit short, it does mean he snubbed meetings with Zelensky and the Mexican president. Have Labour got what they wanted out of the conference? And what should we read into Trump's early exit? Lucy Dunn speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Leader Live
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Grooming gangs inquiry ‘must not delay action' against child abuse, says NSPCC
The Prime Minister said on Saturday that he had read 'every single word' of an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Louise Casey and would accept her recommendation for the investigation. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said it is 'pleased' with the decision – but added that a full national probe 'must not delay' urgent Government action. 'We are pleased to see the Prime Minister engaging with the recommendations set out in the Casey Review and will also read it line by line when it is published,' NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood said. 'But a national inquiry into abuse by organised networks must not delay urgent action on child sexual abuse that is long overdue. 'Survivors have already waited more than two years for the important recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) to be implemented,' Mr Sherwood added. The IICSA, chaired by Professor Alexis Jay, found institutional failings and tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales. The seven-year probe made 20 recommendations in the final report published in 2022, as it described child sexual abuse as an 'epidemic' across the two nations. Earlier this year, the Government dismissed calls for a public inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, saying its focus was on putting in place the outstanding recommendations already made in the IICSA. Mr Sherwood said the Government now has the opportunity to make tackling child sexual abuse 'a non-negotiable priority'. 'Child sexual abuse and exploitation by groups of offenders is deeply insidious and devastates lives,' he said. 'Now is the moment for this Government to take concerted action by making child safeguarding a non-negotiable priority. 'This means joined up work to prevent child sexual abuse across all public, private, and voluntary sector agencies and mandatory training so all those working with children can identify the signs of abuse, step in and stop offenders in their tracks. 'Most of all it means supporting victims and survivors by investing in life-changing therapeutic and recovery services and ensuring the justice system can cope with the current backlog of child sexual abuse cases in court.' Following the Prime Minister's announcement on Saturday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the move as a 'welcome U-turn', while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called on him to apologise for 'six wasted months'. 'Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to U-turn, just like he needed the Supreme Court to tell him what a woman is, he had to be led by the nose to make the correct decision here,' she said. 'I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologised for six wasted months.' Speaking to reporters on Saturday while on his visit to Canada, Sir Keir said: 'I have never said we should not look again at any issue. I have wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry. That's why I asked Louise Casey who I hugely respect to do an audit. 'Her position when she started the audit was that there was not a real need for a national inquiry over and above what was going on. 'She has looked at the material she has looked at and she has come to the view that there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she has seen. 'I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation. 'That is the right thing to do on the basis of what she has put in her audit.'
North Wales Chronicle
15-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Grooming gangs inquiry ‘must not delay action' against child abuse, says NSPCC
The Prime Minister said on Saturday that he had read 'every single word' of an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Louise Casey and would accept her recommendation for the investigation. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said it is 'pleased' with the decision – but added that a full national probe 'must not delay' urgent Government action. 'We are pleased to see the Prime Minister engaging with the recommendations set out in the Casey Review and will also read it line by line when it is published,' NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood said. 'But a national inquiry into abuse by organised networks must not delay urgent action on child sexual abuse that is long overdue. 'Survivors have already waited more than two years for the important recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) to be implemented,' Mr Sherwood added. The IICSA, chaired by Professor Alexis Jay, found institutional failings and tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales. The seven-year probe made 20 recommendations in the final report published in 2022, as it described child sexual abuse as an 'epidemic' across the two nations. Earlier this year, the Government dismissed calls for a public inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, saying its focus was on putting in place the outstanding recommendations already made in the IICSA. Mr Sherwood said the Government now has the opportunity to make tackling child sexual abuse 'a non-negotiable priority'. 'Child sexual abuse and exploitation by groups of offenders is deeply insidious and devastates lives,' he said. 'Now is the moment for this Government to take concerted action by making child safeguarding a non-negotiable priority. 'This means joined up work to prevent child sexual abuse across all public, private, and voluntary sector agencies and mandatory training so all those working with children can identify the signs of abuse, step in and stop offenders in their tracks. 'Most of all it means supporting victims and survivors by investing in life-changing therapeutic and recovery services and ensuring the justice system can cope with the current backlog of child sexual abuse cases in court.' Following the Prime Minister's announcement on Saturday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the move as a 'welcome U-turn', while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called on him to apologise for 'six wasted months'. 'Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to U-turn, just like he needed the Supreme Court to tell him what a woman is, he had to be led by the nose to make the correct decision here,' she said. 'I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologised for six wasted months.' Speaking to reporters on Saturday while on his visit to Canada, Sir Keir said: 'I have never said we should not look again at any issue. I have wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry. That's why I asked Louise Casey who I hugely respect to do an audit. 'Her position when she started the audit was that there was not a real need for a national inquiry over and above what was going on. 'She has looked at the material she has looked at and she has come to the view that there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she has seen. 'I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation. 'That is the right thing to do on the basis of what she has put in her audit.'
