Crime
Teenager stabbed to death at council offices
A murder investigation has been launched after a teenager was stabbed to death at a London council’s office.
Boosting Britain needs more than a fistful of Bills
Following the Queen's Speech, Heather Jameson says that personally her glass is at least half-full. But as the Prime Minister prepares to boost Britain after we leave the EU, Government policy is looking somewhat paradoxical.
Getting to grips with youth violence
Stuart Gallimore says the Government’s response to serious youth violence and knife crime addresses the symptoms, not the root causes.
All-round safety for our children
Dez Holmes explains the role of the recently-launched programme to support children’s services to tackle child exploitation in all its forms.
Patel pledges £20m to 'roll up' County Lines
The home secretary’s announcement of a £20m package to tackle County Lines drugs gangs has received a mixed reaction.
The war against County Lines
Paul Marinko looks at how local authorities are tackling the scourge of County Lines – and finds that the dexterity of gangs in adapting to agencies’ responses makes a ‘monumental task’ even harder.
Directors dismiss 'recruiting sergeants' claim
Children’s services directors have dismissed as ‘wholly inappropriate’ MPs’ claims that councils are acting as inadvertent ‘recruiting sergeants’ for drugs gangs.
The crisis in violent youth crime: evidence from local government
Trinley Walker says that on violent youth crime, the results of the New Local Government Network’s latest quarterly leadership index survey paint an alarming picture of how the issue is affecting the sector.
Crime-fighting funds in scarce supply - survey
Three out of four UK council chief executives and leaders do not have access to enough funding to tackle rising levels of violent youth crime, a survey has found.
Government response to youth violence ‘inadequate’
The Government has been urged to back councils to tackle the rise in youth violence.
We will not rest on our laurels
Waltham Forest Council won Local Authority of the Year in the MJ Awards 2019. Martin Esom and Cllr Clare Coghill believe the achievement is the result of ‘nearly a decade of relentless focus and grip’.
The use of child spies ‘needs urgently reviewing as a priority’
Stuart Carlton says the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and the Department for Education need to know which children are being used as spies - and jointly assure themselves that the risks are acceptable.
Use of child spies is 'plain wrong'
One of England’s most high-profile directors of children’s services has spoken out against police use of child spies to penetrate criminal organisations.
Javid announces public health duty to tackle violent crime
Home secretary Sajid Javid has announced a new legal duty that will require local authorities to prevent and tackle serious violence.
More joined up approach is needed from central Government to tackle county lines
Central Government departments work in silos on tackling serious violence and county lines and need to work together ‘in a more smart way’, says a council expert.
Council apologies for failing to spot signs of historic exploitation
Kirklees MBC has apologised for failing to protect two girls from abuse after an independent review found opportunities were lost to protect them from exploitation.
Westminster announces u-turn on cuts to youth services
Westminster City Council leader Nickie Aiken has admitted the council made a mistake when it cut funding to youth services.
Readdressing reoffending
Not enough is being done to prevent a system that sets people up to fail as soon as they are released from prison, says Bob Neill. It’s time for a holistic, multi-agency approach, done with local government involvement.
Police looking at new fraud allegations at West Dunbartonshire
New information concerning alleged fraudulent activity at West Dunbartonshire Council has been passed to police.
Police launch investigation into £70k fraud at Surrey
A police investigation is underway into how nearly £70,000 was ‘misspent’ by a council officer.