Young people, sex, sexual exploitation and domestic violence

Barnardo's has teamed up with Microsoft to launch a new app, entitled Wud U?, to educate children and young people about the dangers of child sexual exploitation.

The app consists of several scenarios that any teenager might face and sets out the sorts of circumstances in which young people may be led into being sexually exploited. As the scenario progresses the user is asked to think about what they would do in the same situation and receive advice about the decisions they make.

For further information visit www.barnardos.org.uk/news/Barnardo8217s_new_app_to_help_protect_children/latest-news.htm?ref=96776. To download the app visit www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_projects/sexual_exploitation/wud-u.htm.

The Office for National Statistics has published area based analysis, conceptions deprivation analysis toolkit, 2009–11.

The interactive Excel toolkit shows that:

• Deprivation indicators with the strongest association with under 18 conception rates were levels of unemployment and child poverty; and
• The highest under 18 conception rates were in Manchester and Lambeth, with these areas ranked as the 4th and 29th most deprived respectively out of the 324 English authorities.

For further information visit www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/regional-trends/area-based-analysis/conceptions-deprivation-analysis-toolkit/index.html.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has published draft guidance on domestic violence cases.

The guidance states that it would instruct prosecutors to consider the use of social media, gang culture and peer pressure when looking at cases involving teenagers.

Other specific sections of the guidance focus on child to parent violence, same sex or transgender relationship abuse, minority ethnic community issues, disability issues, cases involving immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

To download the draft guidance, which is not currently in operation but the final version will replace existing Crown Prosecution Service guidance following a consultation on the paper, visit www.cps.gov.uk/consultations/dv_2014_consultation_index.html.

The deadline for responding to the consultation is 9 July 2014.