Daily roundup 29 January: Refugees, grooming alerts, and second-hand toys

An agreement between British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron has sparked optimism among charities working to move child refugees to safer locations. The Daily Mail reports that the pair struck a deal that means children fleeing wars who arrived in Europe before last Friday may have their cases considered under the Dubs amendment, which could give young people travelling alone a legal route into the UK. Before the agreement, child refugees had to have arrived in Europe prior to March last year in order to be accepted under the Dubs scheme.


Children at risk of online grooming should be sent automatic alerts as part of the government's internet safety strategy, the NSPCC has said. The BBC reports that the children's charity said existing algorithms could be used to flag suspected groomers to moderators. Minister Matt Hancock said he would be robust with social media companies.


Plastic used in some second-hand toys could pose a health risk for children as they don't meet the most up-to-date safety guidelines, a study has found. The BBC reports that scientists tested 200 used plastic toys they found in nurseries, thrift shops and homes across England's south-west for nine hazardous elements, finding that 20 had traces of all nine elements, with some concentrations high enough to fail European standards. But experts said it would be difficult to quantify the risk.


Desperate parents are trying to cure autism by making their children drink poisonous chemicals, man investigation has found. The People reports that at least six police forces across Britain have questioned families over allegations children as young as two were forced to drink bleach and turpentine.


Children's mental health charity Place2Be has received £250,000 in funding for the People's Postcode Lottery. The charity said the money will help it to sustain and develop the mental health services it provides across 282 primary and secondary schools across England, Scotland and Wales.