Join our latest lunchtime webinar on Thursday, 28th March at 1pm as we consider the issues around safeguarding for children within the criminal legal system.
- What are our legal duties towards children in the criminal justice system and what would truly safeguarding them look like?
- Can child protection be used proactively as a tool to oppose the criminal justice system?
- What lessons can we learn from the cases when preventable harm has been inflicted on the children we were supposed to protect?
- Can we reclaim the language of safeguarding and take steps to avoid being complicit in the harming of children in our care?
Hear from leading experts:
Saqib Deshmukh
An activist, youth worker and writer. Saqib has been active in policing and social justice campaigns with children and young people over the last 30 years. He has experience of frontline work in different parts of the country and of safeguarding practice across 5 local authorities and was on Leicester Children's Trust Board in 2010-2012 and the Child Q Core Review Group in 2021-2022. Between 2016 and 2021 he served on the Board of the Institute of Race Relations and recently was the Interim CEO at the Alliance for Youth Justice. He is currently Director of Insaafi CiC a new not for profit that combines the worlds of arts, heritage and justice.
Mel Stooks, Head of the Youth Crime Team at GT Stewart Solicitors
Mel is a solicitor who has specialised in youth justice work throughout her legal career. Mel leads the youth crime team at GT Stewart Solicitors, is an experienced trial advocate in the youth court and has considerable experience defending young clients charged with GBH, rape and armed robbery and murder. Mel co-founded the Youth Practitioners Association (YPA) and was a member of The Rook Committee that produced the Advocacy and Vulnerable Witness Training provided by Inns of Court and The Law Society. She provides training in youth justice to other professionals as well as training for Appropriate Adults who may be required to attend the police station. Mel has considerable experience representing children in the police station and regularly deals with the issue of bail, remand and transfer to local authority accommodation.
The webinar will be hosted by Shauneen Lambe, Director YJLC
Free for YJLC Members, £15 for non-YJLC members. Contact info@yjlc.uk for your YJLC members' free code.
