Government news and campaigns 

More synthetic opioids banned to protect communities

Fifteen additional synthetic opioids are now under the strictest controls, in line with fentanyl, to prevent drug-related deaths in the UK and ensure anyone caught supplying these substances faces tough penalties. The government’s priority is to engage with vulnerable people at risk of being sold these lethal drugs and divert them towards treatment; however, those caught in possession of them could also face up to seven years imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. Read more on this here.

International agreement to fight fraud  

The Home Secretary has secured a new agreement with world leaders to tackle fraud. All G7 and Five Eyes nations, as well as Singapore and South Korea, have agreed a communiqué which recognises fraud as an organised, transnational threat that has become one of the most prevalent global issues. 
 
Under the 4-point framework to combat fraud together, signatories have pledged to enhance law enforcement cooperation, improve victim support, and bolster intelligence sharing. Nations have also set out a clear requirement for collaboration with the private sector to prevent fraud. Read more on this here and here. 

Government commits more funding to protect UK Muslims 

The funding announced will be used to protect mosques, Muslim faith schools and other community centres. This year the government has made up to £29.4 million available, including an uplift of £4.9 million following the events in Israel on 7 October.  

This follows the Prime Minister’s pledge to provide more than £70 million over the next 4 years to the Community Security Trust to protect Jewish community sites, as part of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant. The funding will increase security at a range of locations across the country, including schools, synagogues and other facilities used by the Jewish community. Read more on this here. 

Update on passport application fees 

The government will introduce new passport fees for all applications on 11 April 2024. The new fees will help ensure that income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passport and associated operations, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation. The government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications. 
 
Please read more about the proposals, which are subject to parliamentary approval, here. 

Focus on targeting spiking this week (18^th – 24th March)

The first policing week of action to tackle spiking is taking place between Monday 18 March and Sunday 24 March 2024. The NPCC-led and Home Office-funded initiative was announced following the publication of the statutory report into spiking in December 2023. Operational activity will focus on preventing spiking in the nighttime economy (NTE) and improving police investigations to gather intelligence and gain greater insight into spiking cases. Read more on this here.  

Campaign Materials    
       
The government is running several campaigns. We would be grateful if you could share campaign materials and messaging on your channels, and with your networks. 
 
Stop! Think Fraud is a major national campaign to fight fraud, encouraging the public to take a moment to stop, think and check whenever receiving an alert that may be fraudulent, and to help protect ourselves and each other from fraud. 

This evidence led campaign draws on the expertise of leading counter-fraud experts and includes an online fraud hub which will provide concise, simple to follow advice. It will also signpost victims to relevant organisations for further advice and support. 

ENOUGH. aims to challenge perpetrators and raise awareness of what we can all do to safely call out abuse. Please find attached a partner pack which includes more information on the campaign, and materials which you can share on your channels.     
 
NSPCC Helpline encourages adults to reach out with concerns of child sexual abuse. The service is free for anyone who has concerns about a child or young person. Please find campaign films for professionals, and the general public. 
 
End-to-End Encryption campaign calling directly on Meta not to roll out end-to-end encryption on its platforms without robust safety measures that ensure children are protected from sexual abuse and exploitation in messaging channels. Click here for the IWF parent guide. 
 
Stop Abuse Together aims to empower parents and carers to take steps to help keep the children in their life safe. All children have a right to be safe from sexual abuse, and we all have a role to play in keeping them safe. Let’s #StopAbuseTogether 

 
Parentwise is designed to build parents and carers’ understanding of the range of harms their child could be exposed to. It includes a partner pack to help them spot the signs that something could be wrong and empower them to act if they are worried. 
 
Victims of Terrorism provides information on where to seek advice and assistance following a terrorist incident. 
 
Ministry of Justice Victims’ Code 

The Victims’ Code explains the rights that everyone can expect to receive as a victim of crime. The Ministry of Justice have launched a central hub for information and resources, including a page dedicated to the Victims’ Code, making it easier than ever for victims to find the support they need. 
 
If you’d like to support the campaign on your channels, please email [email protected] to request the suite of materials. 
 
Don’t Get Caught Out – Claiming Expenses  

Online adverts and tax refund companies often suggest claiming work expenses as a hassle-free way to reduce your tax bill. HMRC wants customers to learn to spot the signs of bad tax advice. 
 
The Don’t Get Caught Out campaign helps customers understand what they can and cannot claim tax relief through their online tool. More information can be found on the campaign homepage 
 
Stakeholder news and campaigns 
 
NAPAC: Survivors and Justice survey 

NAPAC have launched their Survivors and Justice Survey. If you are an adult survivor of childhood abuse, we would like to hear your opinions on justice. Due to the large number of responses, we have extended the survey until Thursday 28th March. All entries are anonymous and confidential. Have your say here. 

The Drinkaware Drinking Check 
 
Many people don’t always know how much alcohol they drink and whether their drinking could have any impact on their health. Drinkaware think checking your alcohol consumption should be as straightforward and regular as checking your blood pressure. Drinkaware’s Drinking Check is an alcohol self-assessment that helps you identify your drinking risk level and steps you could take to reduce it, if needed, in just a minute. Discover more about your drinking on the website here. 
 
From Slavery to Freedom: Modern Slavery Spring Forum 
 
The Salvation Army and Wilberforce Institute are hosting a shared opportunity to bring together specialist training, good practice guidance and input from researchers, practitioners, victim-survivors and people with lived experiences. The forum is designed to enable the vital exchange of ideas, interventions, and experience between different stakeholder groups through plenary sessions, panels and interactive workshops by expert international speakers specialising in migration, survivor engagement and trauma-informed practice. 
 
To book a place, click here. For more information, please get in touch with [email protected] or [email protected] 

  
Fully funded ESRC Collaborative PhD scholarship 

The Salvation Army Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Department and University of Hull Wilberforce Institute are supporting a fully-funded ESRC collaborative doctoral scholarship on the topic of: Investigating the long-term reintegration of people with lived experience of human trafficking and modern slavery. To find out more about the scholarship and apply click here. 
 The Language of Romance Crimes

The Language of Romance Crimes written by Dr. Elisabeth Carter, a Forensic Linguist, is now out and free to read online. The book examines romance frauds in action to show in sharp focus the reality of romance fraud interactions as grooming and shows how red flags are silenced and other harms are perpetrated. For more advice on how to keep safe from Fraud, please refer to the Stop! Think Fraud campaign. 

Upcoming campaigns

If your organisation has any upcoming surveys or campaigns that you would like us to highlight in our newsletter, please get in touch with the External Affairs team at [email protected]