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<p>In July 2018 the Government published statutory guidance on inter-agency working
to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The ‘Working Together to Safeguard
Children’ guidance is intended for and should be read and followed by frontline practitioners
and strategic leaders in local authorities, together with other organisations and
agencies that commission and provide services for children and families. The guidance
specifically highlights the risk to children from exploitation by criminal gangs and
organised crime groups such as county lines. It also makes clear that children who
may be alleged perpetrators should also be assessed to understand the impact of contextual
issues on their safety and welfare.</p><p>The Government is committed to increasing
awareness of county lines exploitation amongst those best placed to spot it and published
guidance for frontline professionals in July 2017, which was reviewed and updated
in September 2018, on how to identify potential victims of county lines and appropriate
referral routes.</p>
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