Source: Home Office published on this website Wednesday 4 December 2024 by Jill Powell

Stalking victims are to be given more protection and perpetrators will face robust management under a raft of new measures unveiled by the Home Office from the 3 December.

Not knowing the identity of an online stalker can be extremely unsettling with victims left in the dark as to whether the offender is known to them, which can put them in more danger. 

For the first time, the Home Secretary will issue new ‘Right to Know’ statutory guidance to empower the police to release the identity of an online stalker at the earliest opportunity. This will set out the process for disclosure more clearly to the police and provide victims who are subject to this chilling crime with greater reassurance that they will be quickly told the identity of the individual threatening them online.

The guidance was inspired by the experience of broadcaster and activist Nicola Thorp. She was stalked and abused online in a terrifying ordeal lasting months by a man she did not know, who set up almost 30 social media accounts to send her a constant stream of violent misogynistic messages. 

Former Coronation Street actress and Talk TV host Nicola has been working with the government to give victims the right to know who their online stalkers are after police said they could not reveal the identity of the offender even after he was arrested, despite the perpetrator once saying he had got so close to Nicola on a train, he “could smell” her. 

The man, who called himself The Grim Reaper in some of his messages to Nicola, is currently serving a 30-month prison sentence with a lifetime restraining order handed down after his appearance in court – the first time Nicola learned his true identity. 

In further measures to tackle stalking, victims will also be given more protection from offenders by making Stalking Protection Orders more widely available – these orders can ban stalkers from going within a certain distance of their victims or contacting them, and can also compel them to attend a perpetrator programme to address the root causes of their behaviour.

Currently, Stalking Protection Orders can only be made by the courts if the police apply for them. Under new measures, courts will be given the power to impose Stalking Protection Orders directly at conviction – or even on acquittal if there is enough evidence to suggest that they are still a risk to the victim. This will help stop, for example, offenders from contacting their victims from prison.

In a further step, a review of the stalking legislation will determine whether the law could be changed to support police to better identify stalking and arrest offenders.

Further measures include: 

• defining stalking in statutory guidance and setting out a framework to help support services including the police, education and health services work together and share intelligence on cases to ensure that proper protections are put in place for every victim of stalking so that no one is failed by vital information falling through the cracks
• national standards on stalking perpetrator programmes will be published to ensure that interventions properly address an offender’s stalking behaviour in a consistent and evidence-based way across England and Wales
• new data on stalking offences will be published by the Home Office which will help inform policy and policing decisions on this crime

In addition, the government has committed to accepting or partially accepting all the recommendations arising from the recent super-complaint on stalking made by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and a consortium of other organisations and campaigners to demand better support for victims, and a stronger response from the authorities, in the wake of the sharp rise in stalking offences over recent years. 

Source: National Autistic Society published on this website Monday 2 December 2024 by Jill Powell

The Government has announced the Get Britain Working White Paper to reform employment, health and skills support which it promises will tackle economic inactivity and support people into good work.

Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, writes:

“Only 30% of autistic people are in work, the lowest of any disability. This shouldn’t be the case.

Most autistic people can and want to work but face multiple barriers in finding and progressing in employment. We hope today’s reforms will close the unacceptable autism employment gap and genuinely remove these barriers.

“We welcome the independent review into how employers can better support disabled people and the commitment to engage with disabled people on the green paper. Jobcentres and employment support need an overhaul, and changes need to include autism training for all job coaches and assessors.

“While the overhaul of the disability benefits system is long overdue, there is a culture of blame and anxiety around work and benefits for many autistic and disabled people, and it is important that their voices are heard throughout this process. Autistic people face barriers to employment including poor autism understanding, discrimination and a lack of adjustments. Unless the Government acts to lift those barriers, then autistic people will not be able to engage fully with the Government’s support offer and may be at risk of being unfairly punished.”

Read more about the new White Paper.

Source: Disclosure and Barring Service published on this website Tuesday 3 December 2024 by Jill Powell

Persuading job seekers to pay for a non-existent DBS check is a tactic being used by fraudsters to extract cash from their victims, with January and February a peak period for scammers to pounce. Typically referenced as ‘advanced fee scams’, victims are encouraged to pay upfront for ‘recruitment administration’ - including a supposed DBS check to progress with the recruitment offer. Text and WhatsApp messages can be cleverly designed to get jobseekers to part with their details.  

Coinciding with the Home Office’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has compiled a list of top tips for job seekers to stay safe from fake DBS check scams in any recruitment search: 

• Eligibility criteria - not all positions require a Standard or Enhanced DBS check. These checks are typically necessary for roles like education, health and social care, and security. If your job does not fall into these categories, and you are asked for a DBS check, it might be a fraudulent request. Check the eligibility criteria or consult with DBS. Information is provided online.  
• Outdated requests – be aware of outdated requests using archaic terminology. In 2012, the Criminal Records Bureau (or the CRB) as it was known then was replaced by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in England and Wales. If someone is still asking for money for a ‘CRB check’, it is time to investigate further. Genuine requests will reference the current DBS system.  
• DBS Logo - organisations that are registered with DBS are not permitted to use the DBS logo on their websites. If a website contains the DBS logo it could indicate it is not genuine. 
• Verification process - always enquire about who is processing the DBS check. If it’s the employer, contact DBS or Disclosure Scotland to confirm their legitimacy. If it’s an Umbrella Body that is carrying out DBS checks on behalf of other employers, verify their authenticity and ensure the employer is registered to use their service. A list of Umbrella Bodies is available online, so you can check and see if the organisation appears and is legitimate.  
• Industry Bodies - for those in the security industry, usually only the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is permitted to run checks for this line of work. If you’re asked for upfront payment for a check, verify its authenticity. Stay vigilant, especially when it comes to industry-specific regulations. 
• Cost Consideration - the cost for a Basic check is £21.50 and is available for any position. A standard check costs £21.50, is available for certain roles and shows convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer (PNC), subject to filtering. An Enhanced check costs £49.50 and is sent to police forces so they can carry out searches on their local intelligence systems and decide if any relevant information should be released. An Enhanced check with Barred Lists is also £49.50 for those involved in regulated activity. 

Organisations that are registered with DBS may charge an administration fee for the service they are providing. This is separate from the DBS fee. However, be cautious if you are asked to pay exorbitant amounts. Most legitimate organisations are looking to get you to the onboarding process and won’t demand upfront payment. If in doubt, refrain from parting with any money during the recruitment process. 

DBS is set to deliver a LinkedIn webinar sharing tips and sector guidance to support job seekers to stay safe throughout their employment search. The webinar will take place on Wednesday 21st February from 2pm and will last around 15 minutes. DBS will be monitoring and responding to any comments or questions while the webinar is live. 

Ian Johnston, Executive Director of Operational Services at DBS, said “Hasty and decisive action is essential when combatting job scammers. By following these steps, job seekers can minimise the effects of illegal scams and make the job-searching journey safer.  

“DBS’ Regional Outreach team can also provide localised support to organisations and networks to offer support and guidance around all things safeguarding. DBS remains committed to providing thorough guidance and support around the importance of staying vigilant in the ever-evolving landscape of job scams.” 

Government Anti-Fraud Champion, MP Simon Fell said, “Fraudsters are masters of deceit who create a false sense of urgency to try and compel you into taking action.   

“Through the Fraud Strategy, we are taking robust action to prevent fraud and that includes the rollout of the new Stop! Think Fraud online hub, which has a wealth of advice on how to spot suspicious messages.  

“If you receive a message that doesn’t feel right, take a moment to stop and think about the risk of fraud - don’t immediately respond or click a link. Contact your prospective employer directly, through a number or email address you know is correct.”

Source: UK Safer internet Centre published on this website Friday 29 November 2024 by Jill Powell

A total of 60,604 additional children can now be ‘seen’ owing to the new ability, and their abuse images incorporated into a dataset used by tech companies and law enforcement around the world.  The new feature has been added to Intelligrade, a tool used by the IWF to accurately, and in great detail, grade child sexual abuse images and videos, providing them with a unique ‘hash’ or digital fingerprint that will prevent them from being uploaded or shared on the internet.

The enhancement has been possible thanks to funding from Nominet’s Countering Online Harms fund, which supports charities and organisations developing ‘tech for good’ solutions that improve lives.

So far in 2024, the IWF has recorded 563,590 children in criminal child sexual abuse images. This is the first time the IWF, and any other organisation working on this field, has been able to account for every child appearing in abusive sexual images online.

The IWF Hash List has more than two million hashes, preventing this criminal content from being shared again and again.  

Read the full article here.