Daily roundup 5 March: Homelessness, energy drinks, and Facebook

Vulnerable children are being forced into homelessness because local authorities are routinely flouting child protection laws, lawyers and charities have warned. The Independent reports that although local authorities are legally obliged to provide accommodation for minors, London charity Project 17 said councils were effectively ignoring the law and often complying only after legal action is taken.


Sales of energy drinks to children under 16 will be banned by most major UK supermarkets as of today, following concerns about their high levels of sugar and caffeine and impact on health and behaviour. The Guardian reports that customers buying drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre in branches of Asda, Aldi, the Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose will be asked to prove they are over 16.


Facebook has admitted it was a "mistake" to ask users whether paedophiles requesting sexual pictures from children should be allowed on its website. The Guardian reports that the social network included the question as part of a survey for some users, asking how they thought the company should handle grooming behaviour.


Nine taxi drivers have had their licences suspended and a further three have been revoked after they did not complete training on how to spot signs of child sexual exploitation. The Newcastle Chronicle reports that all hackney carriage and private hire drivers licensed by North Tyneside Council must undergo child sexual exploitation (CSE) awareness training. The council's latest figures show that nine drivers have recently been suspended after they failed to complete the training and three have had their licences revoked.