Sharing information in a timely way when you have concerns that a child/young person is being exploited is crucial to keep children safe and well, to identify the right support at the right time and take action to reduce harm outside the home from abusers.
Remember, you do not need consent to share information if the purpose is to keep children and young people safe and well. You should still inform families (wherever possible) of your intention to share information as this is important when building trusting relationships, unless doing so would place a child/young person at immediate risk of harm.
Practitioners should share information or concerns with police about risks to children/young people at any time and at any level of need or risk. This could include potential criminal offences by the child/young person themselves or others, community tensions, and any worrying behaviour linked to possible exploitation or organised crime, such as drug supply or use of weapons. This will help police to build a picture of people who are a concern, and places and spaces in the community or online where children and young people are at greater risk, such as hotels, fast food outlets and parks. Police can then use tactics to disrupt the actions of abusers, for example increased police presence in an area to act as a deterrent.
Sharing information is in this way is particularly important when a child/young person or their parents/carers do not agree to any additional support. Remember, a child/young person can only come to harm outside the home because someone in their community wishes to harm them. It’s important that police have as much information as possible for them to disrupt the actions of abusers, using police powers and police presence to reduce the risk they pose.
Links to additional guidance on information sharing and the partnership information sharing form:
- Information sharing guidance: Harm Outside of the Home
- Partnership information sharing – to be used by partner agencies to share information with the police which has been gathered during their work and may be of interest to law enforcement.
- Information Commissioner: Think. Check. Share. Data sharing to safeguard a child at risk of harm on Vimeo
- Information Commissioner: a 10 step guide to sharing information to safeguard children