The Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 22 January 2026 to discuss the Staffordshire County Council Community Safety Strategy and the role of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE). Decisions were made regarding the adoption of the Community Safety Strategy and the amendment of previous minutes concerning reunification.

Community Safety Strategy

Councillor Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience, presented the Staffordshire County Council Community Safety Strategy, highlighting it as a significant step towards a more focused approach to community safety. The strategy is built around four interconnected priorities: protecting vulnerable people, creating safer and stronger places, prevention, and effective partnerships. Key initiatives include a zero-tolerance stance on grooming gangs and child exploitation, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and promoting civic pride. The strategy aims to empower communities, encourage personal responsibility, and foster effective partnerships with agencies.

During the discussion, Councillor Charlotte Kelly raised concerns about the strategy's approach to child-on-child incidents, seeking clarification on whether the zero tolerance mentioned would apply. Councillor Screen clarified that while all incidents would be dealt with, there was no intention to adopt a stricter approach specifically to child-on-child behaviour. Councillor Ann Edgeller expressed concern for children in care and those leaving care, particularly those with mental health issues, who may be vulnerable to exploitation by county lines operations. Catherine Mann, Assistant Director for Culture, Rural and Safe Communities, explained that the strategy would work alongside existing safeguarding partnerships to identify and address any gaps in support for these vulnerable young people.

Councillor Victoria Wilson questioned how the strategy would translate into tangible improvements for residents, citing concerns about people being afraid to express their religion and the practical implications of Martin's Law for community events. Councillor Screen assured that the detailed action plan would bring the strategy to life for residents, with specific elements addressing these concerns. Councillor Kelly also highlighted the importance of preventing sexual assault and harassment of women and girls, and ensuring adequate support for survivors, noting the disparity in reported incidents between rural Leake and the town of Leake. The committee was informed that a new domestic abuse strategy was in place and that behaviour change was a contracted arrangement with providers.

The committee also discussed the challenges of implementing the strategy in closed communities and the need for tailored communication approaches. The issue of police visibility and the reduction in PCSO presence during peak hours was raised, with Councillor Screen stating that the strategy includes a lobbying plan to address resource allocation. Questions regarding the success rate of early intervention for vulnerable individuals in grooming and drug gangs, and the average timeline for resolving cases, were deferred to Children's Services for a more detailed response. The committee was informed that court cases could take up to 18 months to reach a judge.

The committee was also informed that a refreshed community safety strategic assessment for Staffordshire would be available within weeks, which could provide further insight into local issues and inform the committee's future work plan. The potential impact of local government reorganisation on the three-year strategy was acknowledged, with work underway to ensure a smooth transition. A suggestion was made to roll out self-protection classes for girls in secondary schools, and the committee requested details of the Trinity interview sheets used for children. The committee also discussed ensuring the safety of victims while awaiting lengthy court proceedings.

Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE)

Reverend Preb. Michael Metcalf presented an overview of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE), explaining its role in ensuring pupils receive a high-quality entitlement to Religious Education (RE) and collective worship. He detailed the composition of SACRE, which includes representatives from Christian denominations, other religions and denominations, teacher associations, and the local authority, with each group having a single block vote. Reverend Metcalf also touched upon the challenges of representation, including the difficulty in finding active Jewish participants due to societal hostility and anti-Semitism. He noted that while the Jewish community in Staffordshire is small and ageing, there are larger communities in Manchester that could potentially be engaged.

Councillor Kelly inquired about the reduction in schools offering RE, despite evidence of increased spiritual openness among young people. Reverend Metcalf explained that while RE is a compulsory entitlement, pupils opt for subjects at GCSE level, and some schools offer a short course RE GCSE, which can lead to a perceived reduction in overall RE provision. He also addressed concerns about declining performance in Staffordshire secondary schools, stating that RE is not unique in this trend and that raising aspirations for pupils is a significant challenge.

The discussion also covered the role of BTEC RE, which is offered in colleges and not covered by SACRE. The potential impact of local government reorganisation on SACRE was discussed, with the understanding that new local authorities would need to establish their own SACREs. Councillor Doherty sought clarification on the practical meaning of local context in RE, and Reverend Metcalf explained that it involves engaging with Christian traditions, the Jewish tradition due to common origins, and Islam due to its significant presence. He also mentioned the encouragement for schools to include awareness of Dharmic religions and non-religious worldviews.

Councillor Wilson raised questions about the remuneration for the SACRE chair, the representation of the Jewish faith, the emphasis on religion in education, and the scrutiny of home-educated children. Reverend Metcalf confirmed that SACRE is entirely voluntary and unpaid, with a modest budget to support its work. He acknowledged the nationwide apprehension within the Jewish community and the challenges posed by anti-Semitism. Regarding home-educated children, he stated that they are required to receive an education that complies with the law, including RE, and that this is part of the oversight provided by the authority. The idea of integrating SACRE into libraries and family hubs was met with enthusiasm. Reverend Metcalf also announced that his successor as chair would be Hifsa Iqbal, an OBE and Deputy Lieutenant for the county.

The committee also discussed the adaptation of the RE approach for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with the understanding that the curriculum should be delivered in a way that each pupil can most readily engage with and benefit from. Councillor Kelly commended three schools for achieving the Gold Award for RE quality mark, though the specific schools were not named at the time.

Work Programme

The committee discussed additions to its work programme. Councillor Charlotte Kelly proposed adding a discussion on the use of PAVA (a synthetic pepper spray) within prisons, following the recent passing of legislation. Councillor Ann Edgeller supported this, noting that Warrington Prison had offered to provide a speaker. The committee agreed to add this to the work plan. Updates were provided on the elective home education working group, including meetings with school representatives and parents, and a visit to an alternative education provision site. The committee also noted that the next two meetings in February would have full agendas, and an additional meeting in March had been scheduled to review the outcome of an Ofsted revisit.

Other Matters

A brief announcement was made regarding a large carving knife found outside the building, prompting a reminder for attendees to be aware of their surroundings when leaving.