Daily roundup 15 December: Social media, domestic violence, and Rotherham case

Teenagers under the age of 16 could be banned from social media sites if they don't have parental permission under changes to European Union laws. The Telegraph reports that the EU is on the verge of pushing through the new regulations, which would require teenagers to seek permission when signing up to a social media account, using search engines or downloading an app.


Recorded cases of domestic violence rose by 31 per cent between 2013 and 2015, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has said. The BBC reports it warned the rise has led to increased workloads and has affected the speed and quality of investigations at some forces in England and Wales.


A woman who took in vulnerable girls from a children's home in Rotherham wanted to "pimp" them out, a jury has heard. The Guardian reports that a witness to the alleged crimes, who claims to have been sexually assaulted, told a court she woke up one night to find her bedroom "full of Asian men, five or six of them" who accused her of "being mardy" when she refused to have sex with them.


A report that looks into the role of short term stays in residential care has been released by Action for Children and the NSPCC. "Adolescents on the Edge of Care: The role of short term stays" aims to explore new ways of supporting young people in or on the edge of care and their families.


Teenagers in the North East of England drink more alcohol that anywhere else in England. The Chronicle Live reports that one in five 15-year-olds have admitted to being drunk in the past month, according to figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.


A pilot teaching programme aimed at ensuring music making is accessible to children with disabilities is to launch in Birmingham. The year-long programme, which is led by Birmingham City University, The One Handed Musical Instrument and Birmingham Services for Education will work with 15 children across 13 schools and involve one-to-one and group lessons.