All frontline officers undertake e-learning in keeping children safe, Section 55 safeguarding responsibilities, trafficking indicators, the National Referral Mechanism, Female Genital Mutilation and Modern Slavery.<\/p>
Border Force also has a network of specially trained Safeguarding and Modern Slavery (SAMS) teams who receive a classroom training course focussing on the knowledge and skills needed for this area.<\/p>
Section 55 of the Borders Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 sets out that the Secretary of State must have due regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK while discharging statutory functions in relation to asylum, immigration, nationality and customs. Section 55 places an obligation on the Home Office, including all Border Force staff, to ensure that in carrying out existing functions, the child\u2019s safety and welfare is given priority. The definition of a child for this statutory obligation is a person under the age of 18.<\/p>
In 2014, the Home Office fully accepted recommendations made in the Independent Review by Peter Wanless (Chief Executive of the NSPCC) and Richard Whittam QC<\/a>[1]. This means that if a member of Home Office staff refers an allegation of child abuse to the police, they must also ensure that it has been recorded appropriately. Guidance has been issued to provide information to staff on how this should be done.<\/p>