CHILD ABUSE LINKED TO BELIEF IN SPIRIT POSSESSION: A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE Michael MacKay Group Manager

Slide 2 Newham : The Local Context Population of 240,000 75,000 children and young people High population churn with estimated 20% of population either leaving or arriving in the borough each year 35% of school pupils have English as their first language 4000 children and young people have a disability

Slide 3 Newham : The Local Context Ethnicity Breakdown White 28% Black Caribbean 6.5% Black African 16.5% Black Other 3% Pakistani 11.1% Bangladeshi 10.6% Chinese 1.6% Other Asian 5% Other 5.7% Total BAME 72.1%

Slide 4 Newham : The Local Context 2500 children and young people have a learning disability 450 children and young people are in care 310 children and young people have a child protection plan 94 known faith based groups/organisations

Slide 5 The KB Case Kristy and siblings from France on holiday December 2010 Not known to local agencies Kristy died 25/12/2010 Eric and Magalie had lived in London since they were children. Not known to Newham based agencies. Eric had been in care as young man. Limited knowledge of Magalies background Eric and Magalie found guilty of murder Press coverage focused on aspect of spirit possession/witchcraft

Slide 6 Newham's Response Newham Safeguarding Children Board more focused on this issue Needed to understand more Under reporting of concerns London Councils Project already in place - Accelerated pace locally Local decision to focus primarily on abuse linked to a belief in spirit possession in Muslim communities and African Christian communities

Slide 7 What the Newham Safeguarding Children Board Did… Community Engagement including focus groups with stakeholders. We learned: –There is a mistrust of statutory services –Community not clear about legislation and their responsibilities –Faith and community leaders as Change Agents –Need for professionals to be more culturally competent

Slide 8 What the Newham Safeguarding Children Board Did… Developed Faith and Culture Sub Group Prioritised learning from faith-based abuse in Business Plan Established data base of faith groups Multi-Agency Workforce Development Established links to Project Violet National Working Group

Slide 9 What the Newham Safeguarding Children Board Did… Built relationships with organisations e.g. Trust for London, AFRUCA, Congolese Family Centre Building network of community and faith leaders as Change Agents Developing integrated response to trauma Established LSCB permanent Sub Group

Slide 10 Challenges Building trust with partners Urgency but relationship building takes time Early intervention-thresholds Competing priorities Reporting levels

Slide 11 What Next? Community and faith based groups as active members of LSCB – leading on this agenda Need to know faith based groups All staff training built into mainstream development programmes across the partnership Increased reporting Regional: London Councils Sub Group National: Action Plan