Child Protection Policy

Location Routes Management Ltd – Child Protection Policy – v01

Updated: February 2026 (version 01 – 03/02/2026)

  1. Introduction

Location Routes Management Ltd is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people involved in film and TV productions facilitated through our services. This policy sets out principles and responsibilities that should be adhered to when working with children and young persons in the context of location scouting, traffic management, kit hire, and crew support.

  1. Who does this policy apply to?

This policy applies to all staff regardless of role and/or seniority, working for Location Routes Management Ltd, as a permanent member of staff, a contractor, freelancer, or scout, either in the UK or abroad. This policy shall be made available to all of the aforementioned and also to anyone who is a contributor, location owner, or production client engaging with our services.

In this policy, children and young persons refers to anyone under 18 years of age.

  1. What does this policy contain?

This policy seeks to reflect the principles of UK legislation.

The relevant legislation that applies to the safeguarding of children is as follows:

  • Children and Young Persons Act 1933: Applies to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Children and Young Persons Act 1963: Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
  • Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995: Applies to Northern Ireland.
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: Applies to England and Wales.
  • Children and Families Act 2014: Applies to England and Wales.
  • Children and Young People 2014: Applies to Scotland.
  • The Children (Performance and Activities) (England), Regulations 2014 (‘the English Regs’)
  • The Children (Performance and Activities) (Scotland) 2014 (‘the Scottish Regs’)
  • The Children (Performance and Activities) (Wales) regulations 2014 (‘the Welsh Regs’)
  • Children (Public Performances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (‘the N.I. Regs’).

The key principles arising from the legislation are:

  • The welfare of the child is paramount
  • No child or group of children must be treated any less favourably than others in being able to access services which meet their particular needs
  • All children without exception have the right to protection from abuse regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs
  1. What is the objective of this policy?
  • To inform all permanent staff, freelancers, contractors, scouts, and clients of the principles
  • To ensure staff know how to report concerns and non-compliance with this policy, as well as whom to speak to for advice and support in all matters relating to the safeguarding of children and young persons.
  1. Responsibilities under this policy

Staff that read this policy and work on projects involving children have a responsibility for children and young persons that are present at locations or events facilitated by Location Routes Management Ltd. If there are any concerns, whether about a child’s welfare, an adult’s behaviour towards a child or young person, or in any way a non-compliance of this policy and the principles set forth within, you have a responsibility to let a senior staff member know. The responsibility applies regardless of how and when the information, suspicion or concern came to your knowledge.

The Director of Location Routes Management Ltd (Oliver Laurenson-Gore) is the point of contact and escalation route for all aspects of working with children, including safeguarding concerns.

  1. Management responsibility

The Director is the focal point for all child protection issues.

The Director should be contacted if staff believe that a child involved in a production or event at a location provided by Location Routes Management Ltd may be at risk of harm, and/or if anyone is told by a child or young person of a child welfare issue or if there are any concerns about an adult’s contact with children.

  1. Child Protection and Safeguarding Definition

Safeguarding is the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. It means:

  • Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
  • Preventing harm to children’s health or development
  • Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
  • Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes
  • Child protection is part of the safeguarding process and focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.
  • The child protection policy and safeguarding guidance applies to all children up to the age of 18 years.
  1. What is Child Abuse?

Child abuse is any action by another person – adult or child – that causes significant harm to a child. It can be physical, sexual or emotional, but can also be about a lack of love, care and attention. We know that neglect, whatever form it takes can be as damaging to a child as physical abuse.

An abused child can experience more than one type of abuse, as well as other difficulties in their lives. It can often happen over a period, rather than being a one-off event, and increasingly it can happen online. Children are more vulnerable to abuse when they have a disability, or if they are experiencing parental and child mental health issues, bullying, parental or child substance misuse, such as drugs or alcohol, and behavioural issues including exclusion from education, social isolation etc.

8.1 Types of Child Abuse

We want to ensure that anyone working with children has sufficient knowledge and confidence to report any concerns that they might have for a child or about the behaviour of an adult or other young person towards a child through reading this policy. Children can be groomed over a period of time whilst others are groomed opportunistically.

  • Physical Abuse is deliberately hurting a child causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts.
  • Emotional Abuse is the emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child, it is sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause children serious harm. It may lead to a child thinking that they are worthless, unloved and inadequate. It may include expecting a child to be able to do more than their stage of development would allow, such as expecting a baby to feed themselves, be toilet trained or not to cry, as well as being overprotective and stopping children from having opportunities to explore or participate in normal social interaction. It can also include seeing or hearing domestic abuse, being subject to or witnessing bullying which can cause a child to frequently feel frightened or in danger. Emotional abuse is a factor in all forms of abuse although it may exist alone.
  • Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It is dangerous and children can suffer serious and long-term harm. Neglect may occur during pregnancy because of maternal alcohol or drug misuse, but once a child is born, neglect may involve a carer failing to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, lack of supervision, access to medical care or keeping the child safe from danger. It may also include unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.
  • Sexual Abuse is when a child is forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This does not have to be physical contact, but could involve children looking at, or being the subject of, sexual images, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult men; women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
  • What is grooming? Grooming is defined as developing the trust of an individual or his or her family for the purposes of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or trafficking. Grooming can happen both online and in person.
  • Online Abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks or playing games online. Sexual abuse can happen online too.
  1. What do I do if I am concerned about a child?

9.1 Types of Concern

You may be concerned about the welfare of a child for a number of reasons.

  • You may have observed an injury
  • Witnessed or heard an interaction between children or between an adult and a child
  • You may be concerned about bullying or inappropriate use of mobile phones
  • You may know of someone who has been or is, accessing or sharing child sex abuse images
  • A child may exhibit inappropriate sexualized behaviour or awareness
  • Look neglected or withdrawn in their behaviour
  • A child might make a disclosure to you that they or someone they know is being abused.

9.2 What to do

If a child says they want to tell you a ‘secret’ or they disclose information that may suggest they are at risk of, or have been, abused it is important that you tell them that you cannot keep secrets and that, depending upon what they tell you, you may have to tell someone else in order to keep them safe. In the majority of cases the child will disclose to you anyway as, quite often, a child will have prepared themselves to make a disclosure.

It is important that you:

  • Remain calm and do not show shock or disbelief
  • Listen carefully to what is being said
  • Do not ask detailed, probing or leading questions
  • Tell them that you take what they are saying seriously
  • Tell them what you are going to do next and that you will only tell people who you think need to know
  • Tell them that when you have spoken to someone, they will be told what is going to happen next

In most situations, the child is unlikely to be in immediate danger, but if they are or require medical attention you must contact the police on 999 and once you have done that refer to the Director who is the lead person for child protection as soon as possible.

Whatever your concern, you must share it. Do not ignore a concern and do nothing. We do not expect you to decide what is significant or whether abuse has happened, but you are expected to share information. Contact the Director at Location Routes Management Ltd, and they will be able to decide on the course of action and will be responsible for taking this forward.

Potential outcomes, dependent on the seriousness of the concern, could be a referral to a statutory agency such as police, Children’s Services, the NSPCC or to the child’s school or parent who will know the child better. The information you hold may be important in building a bigger picture and in helping to safeguard the child. Please keep a record of what happened so you can ensure your account is accurate, factual and written close to the event as possible and dated. This will need to be shared with the Director.

9.3 Concerns about an adult’s contact with children

If you have concerns about the behaviour of an adult towards a child, be they a manager, colleague, friend, chaperone etc. you must speak to the Director. Behavioural concerns may be as follows:

  • Behaving in a way that a child has been or may be harmed
  • Possibly having committed a criminal offence against a child
  • Behaving in a way towards children that which means they pose a risk of harm to children
  • Abusing their position of trust and/or power
  • Failing to understand the need for personal and professional boundaries and the impact of their actions upon the safety and well-being of a child.

9.4 Process for dealing with allegations

The Director of Location Routes Management Ltd will be responsible for instigating this process which should take place within 24 hours of the allegation being made.

There may be up to three strands in the consideration of an allegation:

  • Disciplinary action by Location Routes Management Ltd
  • Police investigation of a possible criminal offence
  • Enquiries and assessment by Children’s Services

The process will consider the following:

  • The seriousness of the allegation and the evidence provided
  • Whether a criminal offence may have been committed
  • The potential risk to the child and whether a referral needs to be made to the police, or Children’s Services or Local Authority Designated Officer (England)
  • Allegations of sexual abuse need to be referred to the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre (CEOP)
  • Consideration of how the parents/carers of the child are to be informed and what support the child will require
  • Full record to be kept of the allegations and the process including actions and timescales.

If the outcome is considered low risk and no statutory agency referral is required then the confidentiality for the perpetrator, alleged victim and alleged witnesses must be maintained.

If the outcome is considered high risk and requires a referral to a statutory agency, then this should take place within 24 hours of the allegation being raised. Guidance should be sought from the statutory agency at that point to ensure any internal investigations do not compromise their processes.

A review of the process and actions from lessons learnt should take place at the conclusion of any investigation. If during the investigation the person under investigation resigns or refuses to cooperate with the process it should still continue to its conclusion.

  1. Formal Referral Process

10.1 Designated Officer and Children’s Services

In England each county, unitary, metropolitan and London local authority has a Designated Officer. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland this activity is undertaken by the local Children’s Services Departments operating in line with the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (Dept. of Education, 2015).

The responsibility of these roles or departments is to:

  • Provide advice, information and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations around allegations and concerns regarding paid and unpaid workers.
  • They will manage and oversee individual cases from all partner agencies.
  • Ensure the child’s voice is heard and they are safeguarded
  • Ensure there is a consistent, fair and thorough process for all adults working with children and young people against whom an allegation is made.
  • Monitor the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible
  • Recommending referral and chairing strategy meetings in cases where the allegation requires investigation by the police and/or social care.

Once contacted by an employer they will want to obtain further details of the allegation and circumstances, advise on what can be shared with the person who is the subject of an allegation and submit a referral to the police or Children’s Services if this hasn’t already happened.

10.2 Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) and Disclosure Scotland

If Location Routes Management Ltd removes an employee from working with children (or an individual has already left) because the person is believed to pose a risk of harm to children, Location Routes Management Ltd must make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland.

Employers have a legal duty to refer someone to the DBS/Disclosure Scotland if they:

  • Dismissed an individual because they harmed a child
  • Dismissed an individual or removed an individual from working in a regulated activity (regulated work in Scotland) or because they might have harmed a child.
  • Were planning on dismissing for either of the above reasons but they resigned first
  • Information is shared which, had it been known before, would have led to the person being removed from working in a regulated activity/work.

Referrals must take place within 3 months of the criteria being met and it is an offence not to do so. A decision to refer will be taken by the Director.

The relevant referral forms and guidance are in the links below. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-referrals-form-and-guidance http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/guidance/index.html

  1. Principles of Good Practice

Location Routes Management Ltd shall seek to:

  • Treat children and young people with care, respect and dignity
  • Recognise that those working for Location Routes Management Ltd will be perceived by children and young people as trusted persons and therefore all staff must comply with this policy
  • Use its reasonable endeavours to be transparent in its communication, so that the children and their parent/ legal guardian are given sufficient information to make an informed decision about being involved in the production
  • Assess the risks posed to children when undertaking activities
  • Ensure staff avoid physical contact with children and young people except for reasons of health and safety, or under supervision
  • Respond to any allegations appropriately and implement a disciplinary process as appropriate;
  • Review this policy on a regular basis

11.1 Editorial Guidance

Location Routes Management Ltd has a duty of care to children taking part in productions at locations we provide, in line with Ofcom Broadcasting Code. The Director must be consulted when there is a risk of harm to children to ensure that there are processes in place to mitigate any risk to children.

The production lead should liaise closely with those editorially responsible for the production and with the broadcaster’s compliance and legal officers, as appropriate.

11.2 Criminal Background Checks

When recruiting for roles that will work directly with children it is important to follow safe recruitment practices to determine if they are a suitable person to work with children.

To undertake a Disclosure Barring Check (DBS) or a Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG – Scotland) check, certain criteria must be met:

  • Caring for, teaching, training, supervising or personally assisting (e.g., costume fitting or applying/removing make-up) a child as part of their normal duties or for intensive periods
  • Driving a vehicle solely for children without supervision
  • Monitoring online content or services used mainly by children for child protection purposes
  • Providing a service as a registered professional, such as a doctor or solicitor
  • Managing someone who undertakes an activity eligible for a DBS/PVG check

Therefore, such roles may include wardrobe/costume, make-up, sound, directing a child, transporting a child, moderating an online space which is used by children, or someone who manages an individual who has a DBS check. This list is not exhaustive.

The criminal background check must be in place prior to the individual undertaking their role. If a DBS or PVG certificate has not arrived, then the individual must work under restricted duties until the certificate arrives.

Supporting Artists – when SAs are engaged on a production that involves a child, all walk-ons and supporting artists must be in possession of a Basic Disclosure certificate from either the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Disclosure Scotland or Access NI, which confirms that they have no unspent convictions for offences contained within the Sexual Offences Act 2003. A Basic Disclosure certificate must be obtained every 18 months. If after obtaining a Basic Disclosure certificate, the SA is convicted of an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, then the SA can no longer work for Location Routes Management Ltd.

11.3 Training

It is important that all who work with children understand their responsibilities and have read the Child Protection Policy. Each project will be assessed and when required briefings will be arranged.

11.4 Risk Assessment

A risk assessment must be carried out when working with children. The following should be taken into consideration:

  • How a child may suffer harm including abuse (physical, emotional, neglect, sexual, online grooming)
  • How a child will be safeguarded (child protection policy, code of conduct, lead person for child protection, child protection training, DBS checks, consent child performances licenses, tutoring, chaperones, safe working environment to include transport/accommodation, social media use and working hours)

11.5 Consent

Informed consent from the child, parent, legal guardian or organisation with parental responsibility for the child must always be obtained in advance of working with children in any capacity and documented evidence of consent must always be kept. Children aged 16 and 17 years old can sign their own consent form if the production is not contentious.

11.6 Child Performance Licenses

Child performance license legislation sets out the arrangements that must be made to safeguard children when they take part in certain types of performances. These are granted by the Local Authority for the area where the child lives and can take up to 21 days to process.

11.7 Chaperones

Chaperones are employed in a professional capacity to act in ‘loco parentis’, ensuring the wellbeing of any child working on a production and to monitor compliance with the performance regulations and the terms of any child licences.

Professional licensed chaperones must be employed whenever a child is being used under the child performance regulations. Parents can accompany their own child, particularly if they are under 5 years of age, but parents will not be allowed to act as the child’s chaperone. Parents may supervise where the activity doesn’t fall within the performance regulations.

If a parent is licensed by their Local Authority as a chaperone, they may be employed to chaperone other children but not their own. This is to reduce any conflict of interest that may occur between deciding what is best for the child and balancing the needs of the production.

All chaperones must read the Location Routes Management Ltd Child Protection Policy, and be aware of their responsibilities and read the key legislation for the nation they are working in.

11.8 Safeguarding children online

Abuse and exploitation of children can happen online, through social networks, sharing of information, playing games online and so forth. We recognise that it is our responsibility to a reasonable extent to safeguard children and young persons in services we host online and on social platforms, such as photos, film, and through information in conjunction with our projects.

For more information on how to keep children safe online, please visit this link: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

11.9 Data protection

We acknowledge that children’s data constitutes special category data under the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018. We take extra care when collecting and processing children’s and young persons data as they may be less aware of the risks involved in providing such data. We will inform the children and young persons we work with, as well as their parent/ legal guardian, about their rights under the data protection legislation.

11.10 Documentation and record-keeping

Location Routes Management Ltd will document all decisions taken in regard to safeguarding when working with children and young persons. Location Routes Management Ltd has the overall responsibility for this documentation.

11.11 Other useful links

Broadcaster’s policies: