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The NSPCC Policy team responds to government Green Papers and influences the development of policies and laws that affect children and young people - especially those designed to end cruelty to children. Below are the government consultations we responded to in 2006.
NSPCC response to the consultation on draft Index (England) regulations and partial regulatory impact assessment (DfES) (PDF, 124KB)
December 2006. It is difficult to comment on the Regulations without reference to the wider planning and consultation for the Index. The NSPCC emphasised its concern that the need to have a regulatory framework in place should not be at the expense of those wider issues.
NSPCC response to the Home Office Child Sex Offenders Review (PDF, 187KB)
December 2006. This response sets out the context of sex offending against children, the NSPCC's views on public disclosure of sex offenders, our key concerns about current arrangements, and our recommendations for change.
NSPCC response to Making sentencing clearer (PDF, 43KB)
December 2006. The NSPCC strongly agrees that sentences need to be better explained to the public. We find that discussion of sentence length in certain cases in the media often distorts the reality of how long someone will spend in custody. The consultation paper discusses risk management and the impact of changes in sentencing on children and young people.
NSPCC submission to the Home Affairs Committee Inquiry into Justice and Home Affairs Issues at European Union Level (PDF, 77KB)
November 2006. Cross-border challenges to child protection require cross-border solutions. The NSPCC believes the EU has an important role to play in providing these solutions, including in the field of justice and home affairs, and that it must continue to develop urgently needed initiatives in the field of JHA to improve child protection in the EU. The NSPCC recommends that not only decision making procedures but other obstacles to progress in this area are explored.
NSPCC response to Separate representation of children (Department for Constitutional Affairs) (PDF, 70KB)
November 2006. Subjects responded to include children being made a party to proceedings, CAFCASS acting as the Children's Guardian, the responsibilities of different levels of court, children proceeding without a guardian or a next friend, attendance of both the guardian and solicitor at all hearings and helping children with anxieties and uncertainties arising from court proceedings.
NSPCC response to Confidence and confidentiality: Improving transparency and privacy in family courts (Department for Constitutional Affairs) (PDF, 53KB)
October 2006. Discussion of who may attend family court proceedings, restrictions to reporting and anonymity for the people involved, rules for adoption procedures, information to be provided to adults and children and financial resources to implement the changes.
NSPCC response to Child Protection: Safer Recruitment and Vetting in the Education Service (Department for Education and Skills) (Word, 164KB)
October 2006. This discusses who should undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks in the education service and to what standard and over what period they should be re-checked. It also discusses issues around employment before a check has been completed and the responsibilities of Head Teachers.
NSPCC response to the Consultation on Convicting Rapists and Protecting Victims - Justice for Victims of Rape (Office for Criminal Justice Reform) (Word, 105KB)
October 2006. This paper discusses the definition of capacity to consent, the use of general expert witnesses in court cases, and special measures for vulnerable witnesses giving evidence in court and rules on questioning in court.
NSPCC response to the Cross-Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse (PDF, 86KB)
October 2006. The NSPCC welcomes this plan to develop a more strategic response to sexual violence, however we have serious concerns about the scope of the action plan. In particular, there is a notable failure to address the experiences of sexual violence faced by children and young people. There are a number of ways in which the plan must be reframed to focus on issues concerning children.
NSPCC response to the Cumberlege Commission review of Lord Nolan's report A Programme for Action (2001) (Word, 83KB)
September 2006. This paper covers such questions as: has the implementation of "A Programme for Action" worked? and, have the measures introduced created a safe environment for children and acted fairly to those who work in the Church community? It also discusses the role of the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children.
NSPCC's submission to Call for Evidence: DfES/ HM Treasury Joint Policy Review on Children and Young People (Word, 386KB)
September 2006. A review of the provision of youth services, services for disabled children and their families, strategies for the prevention of abuse and strategies for working with families facing particular challenges and difficulties.
NSPCC response to guidance for Domestic Homicide Reviews under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (Home Office) (Word, 2.7MB)
September 2006. This consultation considers the format of Domestic Homicide Reviews, when one may be required and the time frame for completion. It also looks at a governing body and the involvement of media, expert witnesses and family. Self-harm and suicide is also considered.
NSPCC response to the Ofsted Childcare Register (Department for Education and Skills) (Word, 121KB)
September 2006. Reform to the regulation and inspection regime for childcare to enhance safeguarding for children. Includes discussion on staffing ratios and the registration procedure for providers and their families.
NSPCC response to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework (Department for Education and Skills) (Word, 80KB)
July 2006. This is a discussion of child minding centres: staff ratios, qualifications required of childminders and safeguarding requirements and guidance for centres.
NSPCC response to the sentencing guideline for domestic violence and sentencing guideline for breach of a protective order (Sentencing Guidelines Council) (Word, 82KB)
June 2006. The response covers aggravating factors such as abuse of power and the impact upon children of violence and factors that influence sentencing such as the interests of children. Also includes sentencing guidelines on breach of a protection order and the definition of Domestic Violence/ Abuse.
NSPCC response to the Joint Consultation on the Independent Barring Board (Department of Education and Skills, Department of Health, Home Office) (Word, 294KB)
April 2006. This paper covers the factors to be considered in building a robust Independent Barring Board (IBB) and how to effectively communicate changes to it. It also discusses who should have membership of the Board, how to maintain independence of the decision making process and accountability and performance of the IBB.
NSPCC response on the consultation on national minimum fostering allowances (Department for Education and Skills, 2006) (Word, 32KB)
April 2006. This letter outlines the reasons for the NSPCC's support for a minimum fostering allowance.
Tackling human trafficking - Home Office consultation on proposals for a UK action plan: NSPCC response (Word, 115KB)
April 2006. Coverage is given to the context and scope of child trafficking and how to identify, treat and protect victims of trafficking. The response also discusses commercial sexual exploitation and considers measuring the extent of trafficking, raising awareness and immigration controls.
Stocktake on the Sexual Offences Act 2003: Travelling sex offenders (Word, 30KB)
March 2006. This letter covers extra-territorial provisions, the use of s72, notification of foreign travel and foreign travel orders.
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