Safeguarding and child protection
Safeguarding of children (Back to top)
PECS suppliers are responsible for ensuring an appropriate safeguarding and child protection policy is in place, and this is reviewed at regular intervals with an independent annual review. The policy should include:
- the clear process for dealing with incidents or allegations when a young person’s safety is at risk or has been compromised
- a clear process for referring concerns and allegations of safeguarding and child protection concerns (including disclosures)
- clear lines of responsibility and accountability between supplier personnel, senior management and the local team of safeguarding partners
Read more information in Schedule 2B, Chapter 4 of the relevant supplier’s contract
Body worn video cameras (BWVCs) (Back to top)
Body worn video cameras (BWVCs) are widely used within the secure estate and have been introduced by PECS suppliers for use on vehicles, within courts and court custody suites, to improve staff and prisoner safety.
Children will be subject to recording on these devices in all these environments with the exception of youth courts.
These hearings operate as closed courts to maintain confidentiality, and it has been judged that routine use of BWVCs would undermine this confidentiality.
Additionally, the frequency of violence displayed by children in youth courts is extremely low, therefore the risk of harm to children, staff and others attending court is very low.
Should the PECS supplier have any concerns about a child presenting increased risk to others when attending a youth court, an application to use BWVCs may be submitted via the Security of Prisoners at Court Protocol.