27Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
New Government strategy on tackling child sex abuse welcome – but we need action not just talk

New Government strategy on tackling child sex abuse welcome – but we need action not just talk

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, Parliamentary news
The Home Office’s new Tackling Child Sex Abuse Strategy could help put the UK ahead of the world in tackling abuse, but a Government which is big on promises and poor on delivery must not miss this opportunity, says Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani. He raised concerns that much of the strategy can only be delivered with spending decisions that have been put off by the current Conservative Government, as well as new legislation which has been repeatedly delayed. The 91-page strategy details the extent to which the police, social care, intelligence agencies and government must work together to make an impact on abuse, and bring offenders to justice. It specifically targets online spaces, and focuses on providing adequate safeguarding for children and young people, as well as support for victims. Liberal…
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07Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Council staff can be ‘eyes and ears’ in ongoing fight against child sex abuse

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Councillors want Oldham Council staff to be trained to become ‘eyes and ears’ in the community to help detect instances of child sexual exploitation. Oldham Council has recently asked all Councillors to complete a mandatory training module into combatting child sexual exploitation. This is being delivered by experts in this field from the renowned Barnardo’s Charity. Councillor Sykes would like to see similar training made available to Council staff who regularly meet the public in person or speak to residents over the telephone, such as street cleaners, refuse collectors or call centre operatives. He said: “Although social workers and child care workers would routinely receive such training and would be aware of what signs to look out for, it would be very valuable to have other council…
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23Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats ensure Oldham Council will adopt recommendations of national Home Office-sponsored review into abuse

Liberal Democrats ensure Oldham Council will adopt recommendations of national Home Office-sponsored review into abuse

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Following the last meeting of Oldham Council (11 Nov), the Liberal Democrats have received confirmation that the Council will be taking the recommendations of the Independent Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and applying them to Oldham Council and its Safeguarding. The Council will also ensure that the findings of the independent investigation into allegations of historical CSE in Oldham are shared to IICSA.  Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “I really welcome this response from the Council. Challenging this abuse relies on the Council being open to improving its practices. Being ready to listen to the outcome of the IICSA investigation and ready to implement its findings is one demonstration of that. “Every council has a duty of care both to young people and to the wider community.…
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18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham leading the way on combatting street harassment

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
When Oldham Borough Council voted to pass the Liberal Democrat motion against street harassment this week, it became the first Council in the country to sign up to support the Our Streets Now campaign to combat public sexual harassment by making it a specific crime, and to introduce education in schools to combat the problem. Two thirds of girls in the UK have been sexually harassed in the street, but only 14% of them have been taught about public sexual harassment at school. Surveys have shown that nearly half of them would not report it to their school because they did not know how to, or feared that they would not be taken seriously. Maya Tutton, co-founder of Our Streets Now, said: “Our Streets Now are delighted that Oldham Borough…
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14Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Rise in discrimination towards BAME people since lockdown must be tackled

Rise in discrimination towards BAME people since lockdown must be tackled

Parliamentary news
Responding to a University College London study that found BAME groups were most likely to report facing discrimination since lockdown began, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Everyone should be free to live their lives without fear of discrimination, abuse or violence. Reports that Black, Asian and minority ethnic people have been most likely to experience discrimination since lockdown began is deeply alarming. “All of us with a public platform must stand up to those whose language and actions spread hate – whether based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or anything else. "The Home Secretary must step up and tackle this appalling trend head-on. That work must be part of a wider effort to tackle systemic racial inequality, which is why the Liberal Democrats are calling…
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07Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Landmark domestic abuse legislation passes House of Commons

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have hailed the passing of the “landmark” Domestic Abuse Bill. The Liberal Democrats tabled a number of amendments designed to further support survivors of domestic abuse. Ahead of the Commons debate, the Liberal Democrats had succeeded in pushing the Government to ban alleged domestic abusers from cross-examining survivors in family courts and to properly recognise children as victims of domestic abuse.   Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine had secured cross-party support for two amendments to protect migrants who experience domestic abuse. Neither was put to a vote, but the Government agreed to introduce a pilot scheme to give more support to migrant survivors, and Christine Jardine secured an assurance from the Minister that they will put a stop to police sharing survivors' data for immigration purposes. Following the passage…
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05Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems secure cross-party support to protect migrant women in “historic” Domestic Abuse Bill

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have hailed as “historic” the Domestic Abuse Bill, which is due to be passed by the House of Commons today, while also securing cross-party support for amendments to protect migrant survivors of abuse. Christine Jardine, the party’s Home Affairs Spokesperson who sat on the Public Bill Committee last month, praised the cross-party pressure that has finally brought the legislation to this point and forced the Government to include children as victims in the new statutory definition of domestic abuse. Jardine also vowed to continue the Liberal Democrats’ efforts to improve the Bill further. The party has tabled two amendments to protect migrant women who experience domestic abuse: one to grant them leave to remain in the UK and the other to prevent their personal data being shared with…
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25Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems “delighted” by move to increase protection for abuse survivors in family courts

Parliamentary news
The Government has confirmed it will strengthen protections in courts for survivors of domestic abuse through an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill, following calls from campaigning organisations and the Liberal Democrats.  During Committee Stage of the Bill, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine tabled an amendment calling for the introduction of 'special measures' in family courts during Committee Stage of the Bill. The Government has today announced that it will bring in these changes in their own version of the amendment. Following the Government announcement Christine Jardine said:  “These latest recommendations to protect Domestic Abuse survivors  in family courts are what we were asking for in the Bill and so I’m delighted the Government is to recognise this with their own version of our amendment. “Too often, perpetrators use court proceedings to continue their abuse and…
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18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems support amendments to put humanity at heart of Domestic Abuse Bill

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has today spoken in favour of amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill to put “humanity at the heart” of the Bill. If passed, the amendments would ensure an abuse survivor’s immigration status does not affect the support they receive. The Bill currently fails to make provisions to support “one of the most vulnerable groups” affected by domestic abuse: migrant women. This is a direct result of the Conservative Government’s Hostile Environment policies, which prevent immigrants accessing public funds and key support services. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Christine Jardine, who is on the Bill Committee, spoke in favour of amendments to: Change the rules to grant indefinite leave to remain to migrant survivors of domestic abuse.Allow migrants who are survivors of domestic abuse to access…
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16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

From rail to refuge, let’s keep victims safe!

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, is trying to rally Greater Manchester bosses around a new way to help victims of domestic abuse.  The ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme, is an essential but little-known lifeline.  It provides a lifeline to those fleeing domestic violence.  Rail to Refuge supports victims of domestic abuse by advising them to seek safety in a refuge well away from their abuser.  There have been worries that the scheme is not well publicised and that this is a temporary fix. Rail to Refuge helps by purchasing a rail ticket for the victim to flee a situation of abuse.  Unfortunately, the Scheme has been time limited to the Covid-19 lockdown period.  Councillor Sykes is calling for…
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