CRIMINAL charges have been brought in four cases where children made allegations about professionals, the Chronicle has learned.

The number of accusations made by young people, and the outcomes of those claims, is revealed in the draft annual report for Barnsley Safeguarding Children's Board, which is tasked with keeping children and young people safe from harm.

It shows contact was made with the Local Authority Designated Officer in relation to 222 matters, up by 23 per cent on 171 the previous year. Of those cases raised, 74 passed the threshold for indicating a risk of harm to children, or a possible criminal offence.

Four of those cases resulted in criminal charges being brought and a further four have led to people being sacked.

Almost half of cases involved a police probe with others being investigated either by management or regulatory bodies. The Chronicle had sight of the draft annual report after it was presented to members of the Children and Young People Trust Executive Group, a body of officials responsible for commissioning services and monitoring performance.

The draft document covers the work done by the safeguarding board between April last year and March this year, including detail on how allegations made against professionals were dealt with during that period. 

In the report, independent chairman of the board, Robert Dyson, said: “I am satisfied that the board and its member organisations consistently demonstrate their commitment to keeping children and young people safe.”

Full story in this week's Barnsley Chronicle