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March 20, 2024

Smokefree generation one step closer as Bill introduced 

  • A new Bill (The Tobacco and Vapes Bill) to protect future generations across the UK from the harmful impacts of smoking will be introduced to Parliament today.
  • Under the Bill, children turning 15 this year or younger will never legally be able to be sold tobacco.
  • The Bill also includes powers to restrict vape flavours, packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops to protect children, as well as ‘on the spot’ fines to clamp down on underage sales of tobacco and vaping products.
  • For more, please visit the GOV.UK website.

Strip searches: Watchdog urges police to be ‘proportionate’ with children 

  • Police officers strip-searching children should ensure they act in a sensitive and proportionate way, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reported. 
  • It comes after criticism of how police strip-searched a black schoolgirl without an appropriate adult present (Child Q). 
  • The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has accepted the findings, and said it was “refreshing” its officer training and addressing any regional disparities in providing appropriate adults to supervise searches. 
  • For more, please visit the BBC News website. 

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Cyber-flasher first to be jailed for new offence after WhatsApp pic 

  • A convicted paedophile who sent a picture of genitalia to a 15-year-old girl, has become the first person to be jailed for cyber-flashing in England and Wales. 
  • He also sent unsolicited photos to a woman. 
  • The offence was brought in under the Online Safety Act and came into effect on 31st January 2024. 
  • For more, please visit the BBC News website. 

Boy, 16, arrested after school placed in lockdown after ‘threats’ made against pupils 

  • A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after a school was placed on lockdown after “threats” were made against two pupils. 
  • Armed police were seen guarding the school gates as pupils were escorted off the site. 
  • The police have stated there is a precautionary police presence in the area following the concerns. 
  • For more, please visit the Yahoo News website. 

Mansfield man admits he’s ‘addicted’ to watching child abuse movies after videos uploaded to X 

  • A man from Nottinghamshire has admitted to police he has been “addicted” to watching child abuse images since he was in his early teens. 
  • The court heard how police found over 1,700 images and movies of children as young as three on his devices. 
  • They also recovered films and photographs of adults engaged in sexual activity with animals. 
  • For more, please visit the MSN website.