|
SAFE
CIC
The Safeguarding Specialists
01379 871091
|
Source: Dominic Headley published on this website Friday 26 June 2026
This article is available on Beyond the DBS Update Service: Lessons from the Kristian Parry Case
Dominic introduces his article by saying, “The linked article is not a critique of any single organisation or process, but an exploration of how multiple safeguarding systems appear to have interacted, and where potential vulnerabilities may have emerged.”
. Source: Department of Health and Social Care published on this web site Thursday 25 June 2026
Mothers and newborns across the country will be better protected, as landmark patient safety measure Martha’s Rule will be rolled out to all maternity settings in England, following a string of serious and sustained failures at maternity wards in the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Donna Ockenden’s review – the largest into maternity and neonatal services in NHS history – considered the experiences of maternity care for 2,500 families and found women ignored or complaints dismissed, missed opportunities to identify deteriorating patents and a culture of silencing both junior staff and parents.
The government on Wednesday 24 June commit to rolling out Martha’s Rule across maternity and neonatal wards in England to ensure every parent can request a rapid review from an independent medical team if a baby or mother’s condition is deteriorating and they are concerned this is not being responded to.
The scheme – which is helping transform the NHS’ culture and has been rolled out for inpatients in every acute hospital in England – has already been piloted in 15 maternity and neonatal settings, with rollout to more expected this year.
NHS data shows that there have already been over 2,100 calls to Martha’s Rule requiring changes in a patient’s treatment, with over 600 calls leading to potentially life-saving interventions to transfer them to enhanced levels of care.
The safety initiative is named after Martha Mills, who died in 2021 aged 13 after developing sepsis in hospital, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike.
Martha’s family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not responded to, and in 2022 a coroner ruled that Martha would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray said:
“Last week I met with the families in Nottingham and heard first-hand about the devastating loss they have suffered often caused by horrendous care they received on the NHS. Donna Ockenden’s review lays bare a culture where too many voices went unheard, too many opportunities to prevent harm were missed and too many lives were lost. That’s why we have to take action, and quickly.
“No family should ever have to battle the system that is meant to care and protect them, that is why Martha’s Rule is so fundamental. It provides a way for a concerned mum, or family member to raise the alarm before it is too late.
“I want families across the country to feel safe when they walk through the doors of their maternity settings. Today marks a step in achieving that - but this is just the beginning.
“I want to thank Donna for her work over the last four years. These clear recommendations will form part of our national plan to deliver real improvements in maternal and neonatal care, in Nottingham and beyond.”
Those responsible for failures will be compelled to give evidence to investigations into failing maternity care to end a culture of secrecy and prevent further harm.
This action will help ensure the reviews in Leeds and Sussex are fair and comprehensive, so that uncovering the truth does not rely solely on those who choose to come forward voluntarily. Those who refuse to do so or deliberately withhold information about failures could face up to two years in prison.
The measures are designed to tackle the culture of silence exposed by the Nottingham review, where over 800 staff gave evidence but many described a culture of being silenced by senior clinicians and hospital bosses when raising concerns around patient safety, to ensure that for both reviews of Sussex and Leeds, staff are heard and families are closer to getting the answers they deserve.
Reports of incidents in mortuaries across the country will also be more tightly reviewed, following the deeply concerning findings about the lack of respect given to deceased babies, and the complete disregard to their dignity. The Human Tissue Authority will require all mortuaries to review internal records dating from 2015-2026 to ensure all incidents have been logged and reported. This will strengthen accountability, ensuring concerns cannot be hidden or overlooked.
Donna Ockenden, Chair of the Independent Review, said:
“To every family who came forward, I want to say this: we have listened. It is my sincere hope that through this Review you now feel as though your voices have been heard and what happened to you and your families has been recognised and will be acted upon.
“Today, we have started the process of providing answers. We have set out clear findings and essential actions to address the concerns raised by families and staff. These actions when implemented will drive improvement both within perinatal services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and across England.
“While the majority of births on the NHS are safe, too many families have suffered harm that should never have happened. Their experiences will drive real and lasting change to maternity services in England, driven by staff working to improve services.”
Michelle Welsh MP and the Government’s first Maternity Adviser said:
“Donna Ockenden’s review is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when women, families and frontline staff are not listened to. The experiences of the Nottingham families must be a
“We owe it to every mother, baby and family affected by these failures to ensure that lessons are learned and that meaningful improvements are delivered across the NHS.
“The measures announced today – including the extension of Martha’s Rule and the Hillsborough Law – are a positive step in ensuring the lived experience of women is at the heart of reforming maternity are.”
NUH is also taking immediate action, introducing a new helpline for concerned members of the public available from today. The helpline will provide support for families who use or have used NUH maternity and neonatal services and may have concerns or questions following the publication of the report and media coverage. Details on how to access this service, will be available via the NUH trust website.
Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said:
“I am so sorry for the heartbreaking loss, grief and pain experienced by women and families at Nottingham.
“My thoughts are with those who have been harmed, bereaved or let down by the care they received. They have shown extraordinary courage in speaking up, and their voices must be at the centre of how the NHS responds
“We’ve introduced new national clinical standards which are helping prevent harm and ensure women get urgent maternity care more quickly, and local leaders and staff in Nottingham are working hard to address these failings. However, this report shows the scale of what still needs to change
“I know it can be worrying for women using maternity services, but please continue to speak to your midwife or maternity team if you have any concerns.”
This government has already taken urgent action on maternity. Since 2025, the government has invested £145 million to improve the safety of maternity and neonatal care facilities. Other measures include:
A National Action Plan will be developed through the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary of State, bringing together the findings of this review and Baroness Amos’ report to drive real and lasting change for women and families across the country.
Source: Department for Education published on this website Tuesday 23 June 2026 by Jill Powell
Parents will have greater peace of mind as more surprise Ofsted visits, stronger checks and faster action help keep children safe in nurseries.
Over £8 million a year will give Ofsted the tools to better identify and investigate settings - including 3,000 additional unannounced visits to identify risks early and act quickly. This will give parents assurance that safeguarding across the system is upheld to the highest possible standards.
Tripling the number of unannounced Ofsted visits compared with the year to April 2025 will mean that issues needing urgent attention can be acted on rapidly, ensuring children are kept safe.
Funding will pay for more face-to-face interviews where appropriate before providers open, strengthening checks so every setting meets safeguarding expectations from day one.
The new funding will also include paying for rapid upgrades to Ofsted computer systems already underway, ensuring risk assessments are supported by state-of-the-art technology. Inspectors will have access to real-time updates to help them intervene more quickly.
Together, these measures give Ofsted the tools to strengthen safeguarding from the moment a provider applies to operate, through every stage of inspection and oversight, so that every child can get the very best start in life.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
“Nothing matters more than keeping children safe. Parents should be able to trust that when they leave their child at a nursery, they are in safe hands. “This investment means more surprise Ofsted visits, stronger checks, and faster action where there are concerns – so risks are spotted early and dealt with quickly. Early education gives children the best start in life, and we are making sure it is backed by the high standards of care and protection families expect.”
They build on wider action to improve safeguarding across early years settings, including stronger whistleblowing protections so staff and parents can raise concerns safely and confidently - and that every concern is treated seriously and acted upon without delay.
An independent expert panel is also examining the use of digital devices and CCTV in childcare settings, with ministers committed to publishing its findings and considering all recommendations.
The government is also working with Ofsted to review how nursery chains are regulated, to better identify and address risks across groups of providers.
These reforms sit alongside wider investment in early years, including expanding childcare support for working families and strengthening the workforce – helping ensure every child gets a safe, high-quality start.
Katie Meehan, mother of Genevieve ‘Gigi’ Meehan, said:
“This announcement is another landmark step in strengthening safeguarding for our youngest children. This has been one of the core goals of Gigi’s campaign and we are thrilled with this development. Nothing will ever bring Gigi back but her legacy continues to grow and we couldn’t be prouder of what has been achieved in her name.”
Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Wednesday 24 June 2026
Prosecutors are urging victims of domestic abuse to seek help and come forward during the World Cup, as incidents of abuse are likely to increase during the tournament.
Everyone deserves to enjoy sport without fear of violence, abuse or discrimination.
Whilst the World Cup brings excitement into many homes across the nation, for others it can be a time of fear, isolation and an increased risk.
Prosecutors see a rise in domestic abuse cases around major tournaments, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is reminding the public that domestic abuse is a serious crime that causes profound harm to victims and will be prosecuted.
Olivia Rose CPS National Stalking Lead said: “While the World Cup is a cause for celebration for many, we know it can also be a time of increased risk for victims of domestic abuse. Prosecutors tell us they see a rise in domestic abuse incidents around major football tournaments, and we are deeply concerned by the patterns we see.”
Evidence exists showing the link between domestic abuse incidents and major football tournaments. Research from Lancaster University shows domestic abuse incidents increase by 26% when England plays, and 38% if they lose.
The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) released data showing that over 300 domestic abuse offences were reported to police during the Euro 2024 tournament, where victims believed the perpetrator’s behaviour was linked to football.
Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, and there is no stereotypical perpetrator. Domestic abuse is not always physical. It can be a pattern of psychological, emotional, physical and financial abuse, and controlling behaviour, that deeply impacts the victim.
Olivia Rose CPS National Stalking Lead said:
“Football does not cause domestic abuse. But factors linked to major football events, like increased alcohol consumption and heightened emotions, can make situations worse. There is never any excuse for this.
“We take domestic abuse extremely seriously. Our latest data shows in domestic abuse flagged cases referred to us by police, where the CPS make a charging decision, 4 in 5 cases are charged. We are committed to building strong cases, working closely with police, to hold offenders to account.
“I hope this sends a clear message to anyone experiencing abuse, whether this happens during the World Cup or at any other point - you are not alone, and you do not have to suffer in silence. If you feel able, please report it. We know this can be hard to do, and confidential support services are available - you will be listened to. We will do everything we can to ensure abusers are brought to justice.
“I would also urge communities to look out for friends, family members or neighbours who may be especially vulnerable at this time. It could make a life-changing difference.”
The CPS works alongside criminal justice partners to make sure victims are supported throughout the justice process. Independent Domestic Violence Abuse Advisors are there to support victims, and special measures are also available for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses and victims to make sure they feel empowered to give their best possible evidence in court.
Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, national policing lead for domestic abuse, said:
“Our priority throughout the tournament is to support and protect anyone who may be at risk of domestic abuse. Police and prosecutors are working closely together to use all available powers to identify and arrest offenders, secure evidence and bring those responsible to justice. Football has the incredible ability to unite people, and we can use this tournament as an opportunity to look out for each other and collectively put a stop to domestic abuse.”
Anyone experiencing domestic abuse who is in immediate danger should always call 999.
Victims can also report abuse to the police on 101.
Coming forward to report domestic abuse can be hard to do. Confidential support services are available. For additional support, anyone affected by domestic abuse can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 (England) or the Live Fear Free helpline on 0808 80 10 800 (Wales).
The CPS is committed to tackling domestic abuse and continues to work closely with police under the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan. This ensures prosecutors and officers are talking from the earliest stages of a case to align investigation and prosecution strategies. This gives cases the best chance of securing both a charge and later a conviction.
The CPS works closely with charities and stakeholders to call out criminal behaviour linked to football including domestic abuse, demanding action to stop it.
Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Monday 22 June 2026 by Jill Powell
Five Albanian men have been charged by prosecutors for allegedly faking marriages to EU nationals so they could enter and live in the UK.
They are accused of using counterfeit licences to claim they were married to EU citizens who had a right to live in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. The scheme is how EU citizens and their families were allowed to stay in the UK after Brexit.
Lawyers in the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges after suspects were arrested in Home Office raids across England and Wales on Wednesday (17 June).
Prosecutors allege that they obtained fake marriage certificates purporting to show they got married in Cyprus to EU nationals who had a right to reside in the UK.
Kastriot Hoxha, 31, Sina Ervin, 35, Kadri Sinamati, 28, and Valdet Qoshi, 40, are charged with fraud, and immigration offences. They have been remanded in custody and will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on 16 July for a plea hearing. Kastriot Hoxha has additionally been charged with possession of cannabis.
The fifth man, Denis Hani, 30, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and two other offences. He was charged on 17 June by CPS Direct, the CPS’s out of hours service, within four hours of receiving the evidence and pleaded guilty the following day at Birkenhead Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 16 July at Liverpool Crown Court.
Shaun Sigamoney from the Crown Prosecution Service said:
“Prosecutors have changed these men with fraud and immigration offences over alleged fake marriages so they could live in the UK. While one man has pleaded guilty that has no bearing on the case of the other four who are innocent until proven guilty. We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and they have the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
