APPENDIX 54
Memorandum submitted by Derby Council
Thank you for your letter of 12 March
(received 17 March) addressed to the Chief Executive, asking for
any further information about the situation in this area in relation
to forced marriages.
In previous evidence submitted to the
Committee, inaccurate information has been given about the position
in Derby's secondary schools. This has resulted in critical reporting
in the national and local media and I am pleased to be able to
correct that information.
I attach a copy of our letter to the
Secretary of State, dated 15 February. This sets out the position
in Derby's schools.
In addition to this letter, I would like
to offer the following information.
At the same time as answering the issues
raised at the Select Committee meeting, we arranged for a representative
of the Forced Marriages Unit to attend a meeting of our secondary
heads. This took place last week and was very helpful both in
setting out clearly the role of the FMU and support available
from it, and for schools to advise the FMU on ways of disseminating
information as a support to full and appropriate coverage of this
matter.
There is a specific section in the Derby
and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children's Procedures and training
is available for agencies. The Local Safeguarding Children Board
has a Quality Assurance sub-group which monitors progress across
the LSCB agenda and deals with any specific quality issues. Child
protection training for all secondary schools refers to domestic
violence and forced marriages and child protection coordinators
in schools have received guidance about how to proceed when suspicions
or concerns are raised. All Education Welfare Officers have had
training in these issues.
Where specific concerns about forced
marriages arise, schools will contact the Education Welfare Service
or duty social care team for guidance. To comply with the requirements
of our safeguarding procedures, a strategy meeting is held, where
appropriate, and the FMU is advised where international liaison
may be necessary. The local organisation, Karma Nirvana has also
provided consultancy. Schools are always involved in strategy
meetings and have always been helpful and appreciative of the
issues and concerns. We understand there are new training materials
which will be implemented soon and work with faith communities
is continuing.
Although these measures are in place,
we are certainly not complacent. Recent meetings of the Derby
Safeguarding Children Board and Community Cohesion Leadership
Group have also given consideration to this issue within the wider
context of domestic violence, and there is a clear view of the
increasing priority that needs to be given to in our multi-agency
work (of which there is a strong tradition and foundation in Derby).
We will certainly continue to scrutinise the reported figures
and the issues behind them.
I trust that this information sets out
clearly the measures that are in place in the city, our recognition
of the concerns around forced marriages and our readiness to address
them.
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