Guidance for License Holders - Safeguarding Children on Licensed Premises

Action to be taken

Local Authority Children's Services, the Police (and the children's charity NSPCC) are the only agencies that have a legal obligation and authority to investigate child abuse.

If you suspect that a child under the age of eighteen years or an unborn baby is being harmed by experiencing or already has experienced abuse or neglect and or is likely to suffer significant harm in the future, you must talk to your nominated Safeguarding Children person and make a referral to the Stockton & Hartlepool Children's Hub (Children's Services) and or the Police.

Who to contact

In office hours

Children's Hub -Telephone : 01642 130080  Email: childrenshub@hartlepool.gcsx.gov.uk

Police  - 101 / 999

Out of hours

Children's Services

Emergency Duty Team - Telephone: 01642 524 552                                                   

Police: 101 / 999

What they will want to know

When you contact either agency you should provide the following details:

• your name
• your address and a telephone number at which you can be contacted in case they require other information or to follow up
• the child or young persons name and any other details, if known (parents name, address, school etc)
• relevant information about the circumstances of your concerns - what you see, hear or suspect to be happening about an individual child or young person
• also concerns relating to activities you see, hear or suspect to be happening about the premises or linked to the premises for example if you suspect that a member of staff is selling alcohol to young people who are underage or you believe that children are at risk of sexual exploitation (prostitution or internet pornography)

You may not have all the details about a child or young person, or the activity, but you should still refer. You will be expected to put in writing within 48 hours the information you have given.

Children's Service or Hub and or the Police should tell you how they will respond to the situation in a way that supports their plan of action.