Daily roundup 23 January: Child abuse, poverty research, and children's centres

The number of people arrested over child abuse images stored on digital devices has risen by 36 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics. The Express reports, over 5,400 material offences, many involving children, were recorded last year compared to 3,972 in 2013. Experts believe better policing and confident victims have led to the sharp rise.  


Research by British and American universities has suggested social mixed areas do not benefit boys from poorer backgrounds. Researchers found boys from poorer families are more likely to show aggressive behaviour if surrounded by wealthy residents, challenging decades of research into the benefits of socially mixed areas. The research involved 1,600 children, from their birth to the age of 12, living in English and Welsh cities and suburbs, reports the Times.


Northumberland County Council has launched a consultation on plans to close five of its 20 children's centres. The Morpeth Herald reports that the council is reconsidering the use of the five buildings after finding that the facilities were constantly under-used.


A series of leaked reports have shown how Northamptonshire County Council failed a vulnerable child, who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her birth mother. The child’s foster parent shared the reports, which detail a number of “botched visitation sessions” with her birth mother, with the Northampton Chronicle and Echo in a bid to prevent other foster families from experiencing similar problems.


TThe Care Quality Commission (CQC) has launched a consultation on proposed plans for inspecting and rating substance misuse services. Specialist substance misuse services for people who misuse alcohol and drugs offer treatment in inpatient, community and residential settings. The CQC has been developing a new approach to the way it inspects these services with greater weight given to the views of people who use the services.


Internet provider TalkTalk will be the next provider to block pornography in a bid to protect children, the Mail reports. It comes a day after Sky announced it will introduce a filter that automatically blocks pornographic content being accessed from next month.