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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/06/bishop-calls-for-church-of-england-schools-to-minimise-exclusions
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| Bishop calls for Church of England schools to minimise exclusions | Bishop calls for Church of England schools to minimise exclusions |
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| Church of England schools should keep exclusions to a minimum amid evidence that children barred from the classroom are vulnerable to gangs involved in knife crime and “county lines” drugs activity, a bishop has said. | Church of England schools should keep exclusions to a minimum amid evidence that children barred from the classroom are vulnerable to gangs involved in knife crime and “county lines” drugs activity, a bishop has said. |
| Alan Smith, the bishop of St Albans, told the C of E synod, or ruling body, meeting in York there was no part of the country unaffected by gang violence. | Alan Smith, the bishop of St Albans, told the C of E synod, or ruling body, meeting in York there was no part of the country unaffected by gang violence. |
| “We all know there are many, many causes of serious violence - poverty, drugs on the county lines, lack of alternative activities. But we also know there is a link … a correlation between [school] exclusions and serious violence.” | “We all know there are many, many causes of serious violence - poverty, drugs on the county lines, lack of alternative activities. But we also know there is a link … a correlation between [school] exclusions and serious violence.” |
| Operations in major cities seek new markets outside urban hubs for their drugs, primarily crack cocaine and heroin. The expansion of their networks into the regions often comes with exploitation. | Operations in major cities seek new markets outside urban hubs for their drugs, primarily crack cocaine and heroin. The expansion of their networks into the regions often comes with exploitation. |
| Children and vulnerable adults are often coerced into ferrying and stashing the drugs. They can be homeless or missing people, addicts, people living in care, trapped in poverty, or suffering from mental illness or learning difficulties. Even older and physically infirm people have been targeted and officers have observed a gang member attending drug rehab to find potential runners. | Children and vulnerable adults are often coerced into ferrying and stashing the drugs. They can be homeless or missing people, addicts, people living in care, trapped in poverty, or suffering from mental illness or learning difficulties. Even older and physically infirm people have been targeted and officers have observed a gang member attending drug rehab to find potential runners. |
| Initially they can be lured in with money, gifts and the prospect of status. But this can quickly turn into the use of violence, sometimes sexual. | Initially they can be lured in with money, gifts and the prospect of status. But this can quickly turn into the use of violence, sometimes sexual. |
| National Crime Agency research shows police have knowledge of at least 720 county lines in England and Wales, but it is feared the true number is far higher. Around 65% of forces reported county lines being linked to child exploitation, while 74% noted vulnerable people being targeted. | National Crime Agency research shows police have knowledge of at least 720 county lines in England and Wales, but it is feared the true number is far higher. Around 65% of forces reported county lines being linked to child exploitation, while 74% noted vulnerable people being targeted. |
| Children without criminal records - known in the trade as "clean skins" - are preferred because they are less likely to be known to detectives. Charity The Children's Society says 4,000 teenagers in London alone are exploited through county lines. The Children's Commissioner estimates at least 46,000 children in England are caught up in gangs. | Children without criminal records - known in the trade as "clean skins" - are preferred because they are less likely to be known to detectives. Charity The Children's Society says 4,000 teenagers in London alone are exploited through county lines. The Children's Commissioner estimates at least 46,000 children in England are caught up in gangs. |
| Smith proposed that schools should keep and publish data on exclusions. “If we don’t have data it’s very difficult to know how we address problems … and devise strategies to minimise exclusions.” | Smith proposed that schools should keep and publish data on exclusions. “If we don’t have data it’s very difficult to know how we address problems … and devise strategies to minimise exclusions.” |
| But, in a debate on knife crime and drug-related violence, members of the synod rejected Smith’s call for data collection in favour of a more general “recognition” of the impact of exclusions. | But, in a debate on knife crime and drug-related violence, members of the synod rejected Smith’s call for data collection in favour of a more general “recognition” of the impact of exclusions. |
| Members unanimously passed a motion calling on the church’s national bodies, dioceses and education boards to take practical steps both to help prevent violence such as gun and knife crime and to support those affected. | Members unanimously passed a motion calling on the church’s national bodies, dioceses and education boards to take practical steps both to help prevent violence such as gun and knife crime and to support those affected. |
| Rosemarie Mallett, a priest in south London, who proposed the motion, said since she had moved to her parish 12 years ago, “our lives there have been bookended and punctuated by deaths of young people; their lives often steeped in tragedy before ending tragically. I have conducted the funerals of too many young people, and I prefer to be there supporting the living rather than presiding over the dead.” | Rosemarie Mallett, a priest in south London, who proposed the motion, said since she had moved to her parish 12 years ago, “our lives there have been bookended and punctuated by deaths of young people; their lives often steeped in tragedy before ending tragically. I have conducted the funerals of too many young people, and I prefer to be there supporting the living rather than presiding over the dead.” |
| First meeting in its current format in 1970, the General Synod of the Church of England sets the rules and legislation for the running of the church. There are usually two or three synodical sessions per year, which are officially opened by the monarch. | |
| The synod has three houses and there are currently 467 members. | |
| The House of Bishops consists of all 42 bishops in the Church of England. They are joined by nine suffragan bishops. | |
| The House of Clergy comprises ordained church members below the rank of bishop. They are elected every five years by their fellow clergy to represent their individual Dioceses. | |
| The House of Laity comprises of unordained members of the church who are indirectly elected every 5 years. Each diocese is represented by two members. | |
| The main functions of the General Synod are to pass measures dealing with the government of the church and its institutions, and to pass canons, which determine doctrine and the permitted forms of worship. | |
| Successive governments had failed to understand the causes of violent youth crime and cuts in public services had contributed to the problem, she said. | Successive governments had failed to understand the causes of violent youth crime and cuts in public services had contributed to the problem, she said. |
| She called for churches to be open as places of sanctuary in the critical hours after the end of the school day, for C of E schools to encourage alternatives to exclusions and for the church to fund training for clergy to be aware of the signs of gang exploitation. | She called for churches to be open as places of sanctuary in the critical hours after the end of the school day, for C of E schools to encourage alternatives to exclusions and for the church to fund training for clergy to be aware of the signs of gang exploitation. |
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| Knife crime | Knife crime |
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