Daily roundup 31 July: Gangs, early release, and forced marriage

Pupils should be taught in school how to avoid being sucked into gangs or exploited by older criminals, the children's commissioner for England has said. The BBC reports that Anne Longfield said personal, social, health and economics education lessons should help children spot when they are being targeted by gangs. Her call follows reports children are being used by criminals as "money mules".


An MP has slammed a reported decision to free the former leader of a child sex gang from prison 17 years early as "unacceptable". The Independent reports that Mubarek Ali was jailed for running a grooming gang in Telford, Shropshire, that targeted vulnerable young girls and sold them for sex around the country. Lucy Allan, MP for Telford, said she is concerned that he could potentially be released on licence as early as November - five years into a 22 year prison term.


More help is being provided than ever before for children in Britain who fear being forced into marriages, with some potential victims as young as 13, the NSPCC has said. The BBC reports that figures from the children's charity show that the number of counselling sessions it has provided for young people has trebled in five years.


Buckinghamshire County Council has appointed a new director of children's services. The Bucks Free Press reports that Tolis Vouyioukas, currently strategic director of people at the London Borough of Sutton, will take up post in October.


A foster carer has been handed an 18 month suspended sentence for overseeing a "regime of fear" in his home, and abusing the children in his care. The News and Star reports that the West Cumbrian man's sentence was suspended after the judge heard of his previous good character and "glowing" reports from other foster children.