Latest News
Keeping Children Safe during Halloween and Fireworks night
The Child Accident Prevention Trust has launched information on keeping children safe during Halloween and Fireworks night. The information includes colourful Firesam posters with advice for children and parents. The posters can be downloaded at http://www.capt.org.uk/specialfireworks/default.htm
Each year the highest number of firework injuries happen at family or private parties and over half of those injuries are to children.
Any adult in charge of the festivities needs to know the Firework Code's safety guidelines to help make their fireworks display a memorable occasion for the right reasons.
The message to those in charge of displays is: "Take more responsibility with fireworks, they are more dangerous than you think and could severely injure children or yourself."
Child Death Overview Panel
The Child Death Overview Panel is now operational. The panel will review the deaths of all children resident in Medway. Any professional who becomes aware of the death of a child, and believes the MSCB may not be aware of it, should notify the Child Death Review administrator on 01634 336329. There is also a form (pdf, 105kb) to fill in, which professionals should forward to mscb@medway.gov.uk.cjsm.net when completed.
Further information regarding the work of the Panel is available here.
Worried about your child and gangs?
The violent killings of 19 young people in 2008 alone has prompted concern among parents about what they can do to protect their child from the threat that gangs pose. The role that drug dealing and weapons play in gangs earmarks gang involvement as dangerous, and criminologist investigations have suggested that most young people who break the law do so in a group environment.
The Home Office has released Gangs: You and your child to help parents understand why young people can be drawn to gangs, and what parents can do to prevent their children being drawn into a gang. It offers advice if you fear your child is already involved in a gang, and what the legal implications of gang actions may be. To view the document, please select the link here (pdf, 1441kb)
MSCB's Annual Report (07/08) is now online
Please select this link (pdf, 1743kb) to view it.