Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department gives to police on ensuring that children whose parents have been arrested and detained are taken care of in the interim.

Mike Penning

The police have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of
children under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004.

All frontline officers have a crucial role to play in identifying, protecting
and safeguarding children. Police officers attending domestic violence
incidents, for example, should be aware of the effect of such violence on any
children normally resident in the household.

The College of Policing issues authorised professional practice guidance in
relation to detention and custody. This makes clear that staff must be aware of
the potential implications of detention for each detainee and their dependants.
Detainees should be asked about any caring responsibilities during the
booking-in process. This information must be recorded in the risk assessment or
other appropriate place in the custody record. If a detainee is identified as
having dependants for whom arrangements are required, appropriate arrangements
should be made as necessary to find alternative care.