Daily roundup 11 December: Online safety, care applications, and FGM

David Cameron has announced the creation of a new criminal offence that can be used to prosecute those who solicit sexual images from children. The prime minster also announced the development of a joint specialist unit run by the National Crime Agency and listening post GCHQ to target the most prolific offenders. Speaking at a London summit, Cameron said online child exploitation existed on an "almost industrial scale", and that the new unit will be part of a drive to remove millions of "sickening" images from the internet, reports the BBC.


The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) received 885 care applications in November, a rise of seven per cent on November 2013, latest figures show. November's figures represent a sixth consecutive monthly year-on-year rise, but are significantly down on the 1,004 applications received in October. Since April 2014, Cafcass has received 7,272 applications.  


Victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) are to be afforded the same right to anonymity as victims of rape, the government has said. Responding to a recommendation featuring in a report on FGM by the home affairs select committee, the government said it has tabled an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill in order to change the law. However the government has said it will not be creating a national FGM action plan, because it believes an action plan on ending violence against women and girls, which contains measures to tackle FGM, is sufficient.


The Scout Association has apologised to victims of sexual abuse as it admitted paying out around half a million pounds in compensation to abuse victims since the Jimmy Savile scandal. Lawyers for alleged victims said that since October 2012, 56 people have come forward to claim they were abused while in the Scouts, although the association disputes this and puts the figure at 36. A spokesman said the Scout Association was "deeply sorry" about the abuse, reports the Telegraph.


Greater Manchester Police must improve on "significant delays" in the investigation of a number of child protection cases "as a matter of urgency", a report has said. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary found "significant delays in the investigation of a number of child protection cases", but was pleased there were clear plans for continued improvement of child protection services. The watchdog said the force must act on its recommendations within six weeks, reports the BBC.


Early years, youth and careers services will be among the provision to suffer as Birmingham City Council attempts to make £338m in savings by 2017/18. A public consultation launched by the council reveals that it wants to save £21m over the next three years by "transforming" early years services. It has also pencilled in savings of £3.8m on home to school transport and £1.4m savings on careers services over the same time period. District services, which includes youth provision, must be cut by £16m.