Daily roundup 30 June: Rotherham, radicalisation and forced marriage
Adam Offord
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Rotherham Council revokes licences of taxi drivers suspected of child sexual exploitation; Prime Minister tells schools to be on the lookout for extremist grooming; and a father is jailed for forcing his 14-year-old daughter to marry, all in the news today.
The licenses of five Rotherham taxi drivers have been revoked due to suspected involvement in child sexual exploitation (CSE). The Rotherham Star reports that news of the revocations comes as the council considers introducing tougher taxi licensing standards in the town including requiring all drivers to install CCTV in their vehicles.
Prime Minister David Cameron has told schools to look out for pupils who are susceptible to being groomed by extremists. The Express reports that the move is the first wave of what Prime Minister David Cameron called a “full spectrum” response to extremism in schools, universities, prisons, as well as exposure in the media.
The father of a 14-year-old has been jailed for 14 weeks after forcing his daughter to marry a Bangladeshi man in his 30s, who later went on to sexually assault her. The Express reports the ceremony took place in 2013, and was performed by an Imam in the Bengali language, leaving the girl with no idea as to what was happening.
A 14-year-old boy has admitted stabbing a supply teacher in a Bradford classroom. Vincent Uzomah was left with a single wound to the stomach in a science lesson at Dixons Kings Academy in the city on 11 June. The Independent reports that the boy denied attempted murder but admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Schools in England will face tougher exam targets under plans announced by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. According to BBC News, those falling below the targets, even if they are rated “good" by Ofsted, will be labelled as “coasting”. Secondary schools will be required to ensure that 60 per cent of pupils achieve five A to C grades at GCSE, including English and maths.
Almost 400 children under the age of five were taken to hospital in Nottingham last year due to accidental poisoning, it has emerged. The Nottingham Post reports that medical staff treated 390 children in 2014. Many had been poisoned due to swallowing cleaning products.
