The number of children in England identified by councils as having been abused for reasons associated with faith or belief have risen by a third in the past three years.
The findings, revealed by the Local Government Association, show that abuse of children based on faith or belief – which includes witchcraft, spirit possession and black magic – increased from 1,460 to 1,950 cases between 2016/17 and 2018/19. The rise of 34 per cent represents councils dealing with the equivalent of 38 such cases a week.
Additionally, the new figures also show that the number of children identified by councils through a social work assessment as either having or being at risk of FGM has reached a record high – with 1,000 such cases in 2018/19, up six per cent on the 940 cases in the previous year. The National FGM Centre, a joint initiative between the LGA and Barnardo’s, says both sets of figures are hugely worrying, of significant national concern and probably don’t reflect the true prevalence of this ‘hidden’ crime.
Council leaders are stressing that the next government needs to ensure councils have the funding needed to continue to take effective action to keep children safe from harm and abuse.
Anita Lower, the LGA’s lead on FGM and Chair of the National FGM Centre’s Advisory Board, said: Rising cases of FGM and child abuse linked to faith or belief are extremely worrying and are destroying the lives of children and young people in communities across the country. Social workers have become better at identifying the signs of FGM and belief-related abuse, but the true incidence rate is likely to be higher as these crimes are under-reported.
“Councils are determined to tackle the practice of FGM and work with partner organisations to do everything possible to protect and support children and young people. To support this goal, children’s services departments need to have the funding to address the huge demand for help from children and their families and maximise the effectiveness of prevention and intervention work.”
The CEO of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) Fiona MacGregor will step down after more than ten years in the role.
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published its annual statistics about the social housing sector.
The new Bus Bill has become law, aimed at making it easier for local leaders to take control of their buses.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has set a 2029 timeline for the removal of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from all schools an
Awaab's Law has come into effect today in a bid to ensure safer housing for tenants.
Grantex is the UK’s leading supplier of specialist aggregates and producer of Premium Dried Sports Sand for High-Performance Synthetic Pitches.
Creating and maintaining an outstanding synthetic pitch starts with the right foundation. Grantex premium dried silica sand is engineered to deliver exceptional performance, durability and safety across a range of synthetic sports surfaces.
Join us for the landmark 10th Anniversary of the London Build Expo, the UK’s largest and most influential construction and design show.
Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Expo returns to Excel London across 12-13 November, once again bringing together the world of logistics, supply chain, eCommerce and retail innovation for two dynamic days of opportunity.
Every sport, from grassroots football to world-class tournaments, depends on one constant: high-quality playing surfaces and well-maintained green spaces.
Bauder marked a major milestone in its UK expansion with the official handover of a brand
At Words of World, we specialise in professional translation and interpreting, d
The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) and the Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA) have successfully completed a groundbreaking project aimed at exploring the future of cleaning. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the cleaning industry, reflecting a shared commitment to embracing innovation with confidence.
The Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) new framework on Language Services (RM6302), dealing with translation, transcription and interpreting, is live, running from 7th May 2025 to 6th May 2028.
