New rules unveiled to protect young children on social media
The UK's Online Safety Act, signed into law last week, introduces new rules aimed at protecting children online. Ofcom has unveiled its first draft codes of practice under the act, focusing on illegal material such as grooming content, fraud, and child sexual abuse. The rules include limiting direct messages and removing them from suggested friend lists to protect children. Tech platforms will be legally required to keep children's location data private and restrict who can send direct messages to them. Ofcom will publish more rules in the coming months, with each new code requiring parliamentary approval. The goal is to enforce the codes by the end of next year. The act also encourages the use of technology to identify illegal images of abuse and prevent their dissemination.
Home secretary facing backlash for criticising police
Suella Braverman is facing a backlash after claiming police 'play favourites' with pro-Palestinian protests. Downing Street did not clear the controversial article in which the home secretary criticised the policing of pro-Palestinian marches in London. The prime minister is facing calls to sack Ms Braverman from her position in Cabinet from top Labour shadow ministers and the leader of the Liberal Democrats. The backlash comes after the publication of Ms Braverman's opinion piece in The Times, in which she accused the police of having a softer approach towards left-wing protests. A spokesman for Rishi Sunak said, 'The Prime Minister continues to believe that the police will operate without fear or favour’. Members of the Tory party have also attempted to distance themselves from her 'inflammatory rhetoric', with transport secretary Mark Harper actively disagreeing with her on Times Radio. She also criticised plans for a protest in London on Armistice Day, repeating allegations that its organisers were linked to Hamas and describing them as 'disturbingly reminiscent of Ulster'. She also claimed that pro-Palestinian mobs are 'largely ignored, even when clearly breaking the law'. Earlier, the PM accepted that the planned march on Saturday would go ahead despite opposition from himself and the home secretary.
Christian Institute challenging conversion therapy ban
The Christian Institute, through its Let Us Pray campaign, is defending the normal activities of churches against potential government bans on so-called 'conversion therapy’. This term encompasses various practices, including abusive ones already illegal. LGBT campaigners seek to criminalise even biblical preaching, prayer, pastoral care, and parenting that does not endorse liberal theology. The Christian Institute has engaged solicitors in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland to prepare for a potential judicial review if such bans restrict religious freedom. Legal advice warns that an overly broad ban could breach the European Convention on Human Rights and lead to legal challenges against the government. The Christian Institute has previously succeeded in judicial reviews against UK governments in 2007 and 2016. However,the controversial legislation was left out of the King's speech: see
Council costs warning as fostering places fall
A decline in available fostering places has led to local councils wasting substantial amounts of money, warns a carers' organisation. Capacity issues can force councils to place children in more costly residential homes, according to sector bodies, but the Government claims to be investing £27 million to improve fostering place availability. Official Ofsted statistics indicate that there were 72,770 approved mainstream fostering places in England as of 31 March, 8% less than on the same date in 2019. The decline is primarily due to an 11% reduction in the number of mainstream local authority households, down to 19,835. Meanwhile, the number of independent fostering agency households has risen by less than 1%, and 'family and friends' households have increased from 6,930 to 8,400. Foster Support CEO Jane Collins emphasised the importance of retaining foster carers, both for financial reasons and to maintain their experience and training. However, she noted that local authorities are struggling in this regard.
