When culture and safeguarding collide

Historically, Roma communities have been pushed to the margins of society, facing racism and discrimination in many European countries. Settling in the UK has exemplified experiences of marginalisation, with poor language skills, limited financial resources and generational mistrust in statutory services, increasing the likelihood of Roma families being exposed to harmful or abusive situations. Professional understandings of what Roma culture is and how it shapes identity is also limited, with statutory safeguarding services, including social work, police, health and education, often reinforcing cycles of marginalisation and discrimination. By focusing on identifying and managing child exploitation, this chapter explores the challenges faced by criminal justice social work when culture and safeguarding collide. Whilst this chapter is focused on Roma communities in the UK, the points raised can be considered in relation to other marginalised groups that exist internationally.