Daily roundup: Bedroom tax concession, sexual abuse and child trafficking

Severely disabled children will not be forced to share a room with their siblings under the so-called 'bedroom tax', after the government announced a change in policy. Guidance to be issued to local authorities today will allow them to exclude families of disabled children from reductions in housing benefits, which will apply to people living in social housing who are deemed to have an unoccupied bedroom. The Independent reports that the exemption will only apply to certain disabilities.

A study of girls who carry out sexual abuse has been launched by Barnardo’s, following an increase in numbers being referred to a specialist service. The BBC reports that the charity’s Taith service in Wales had 14 young or adolescent girls referred to it last year after they committed sex assaults. Denise Moultrie, who manages the service, said: "We're concerned that girls with sexually harmful behaviour aren't being detected. And that means they are not getting treatment. Early intervention in these cases is a must." The team has received £265,000 from the Big Lottery Fund for a three-year study.