Spooky Paranormal Investigations Ltd (“SPI”) is committed to promoting the safety and welfare of children and young people who attend an SPI Event.
SPI primarily operates adult paranormal investigation Events. Selected suitable Events may occasionally permit guests aged 12–17 subject to SPI’s Age Requirements at SPI Events and Event-specific requirements. Children under 12 are not permitted at any SPI Event.
Where an under-18 attendee is permitted, safeguarding considerations form part of the way SPI plans and operates the Event.
Attendees aged 12–17 take part in the ordinary mixed-age Event with their supervising parent or person with parental responsibility. Under this model, SPI does not operate a regular youth programme or separate child-specific investigation sessions.
1. Our safeguarding approach
SPI aims to provide an environment in which children and young people attending an approved Event are treated with dignity and respect and are protected, so far as reasonably possible, from:
- abuse or neglect;
- bullying or harassment;
- sexual misconduct or inappropriate behaviour;
- violence or threatening behaviour;
- exploitation;
- discriminatory abuse;
- inappropriate physical contact;
- avoidable safety risks; and
- other conduct which may create a genuine safeguarding or welfare concern.
SPI will take safeguarding concerns seriously and respond according to the nature and seriousness of the circumstances.
2. Supervision by a person with parental responsibility
Every under-18 attendee must attend with a parent or another person aged 18 or over who has parental responsibility for the child.
That person remains responsible for supervising the child throughout the Event.
They must remain together and in the same investigation group throughout the Event.
An under-18 attendee must not investigate independently, be left at the Venue without that person, or be left solely under another guest’s or SPI team member’s supervision.
If the supervising person leaves the Venue, the under-18 attendee must leave with them.
Further requirements are in Age Requirements at SPI Events.
3. SPI does not provide childcare
SPI does not provide unsupervised childcare or substitute parental supervision.
SPI team members do not take over the supervising person’s responsibility for an under-18 attendee.
This does not remove SPI’s responsibility to respond appropriately if a safeguarding concern arises during an Event.
4. Safeguarding responsibility
Safeguarding concerns relating to an SPI Event will be referred to an appropriate SPI director, who will consider the concern, ensure appropriate records are made, obtain advice where necessary and make or support an external referral where appropriate.
Where a concern relates to the director who would normally deal with it, it should be referred to another SPI director or directly to an appropriate external authority.
SPI considers the suitability of team members for the roles they perform and provides appropriate safeguarding information and instructions where under-18 attendance is permitted. SPI will review whether any safeguarding or DBS checks are legally available or required if the nature, frequency or circumstances of its work with under-18s materially changes.
Safeguarding concerns may be raised at hello@spookypi.co.uk.
5. Raising and handling a concern
If a child, a person who has parental responsibility for them, or another guest has a concern, they should tell an SPI host or team member as soon as reasonably possible.
SPI will listen, take the concern seriously, avoid leading questions, avoid promising secrecy, record information accurately, and pass it promptly to an appropriate SPI director. An external referral will be made where needed.
A person raising a concern does not need to determine whether abuse has occurred before informing SPI.
6. Immediate danger and emergencies
Safeguarding arrangements are not a substitute for emergency action.
If a child is in immediate danger or there is an immediate risk of serious harm, appropriate emergency action should be taken.
This may include contacting the police or emergency services on 999.
SPI may take reasonable immediate steps to protect a child or another person while assistance is obtained.
7. Concerns about a member of SPI
Any concern involving a director, volunteer, host or another person acting for SPI will be taken seriously. SPI may remove the person from direct involvement, preserve relevant records, obtain safeguarding advice, and refer the matter to the police, local authority safeguarding service or Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), as appropriate.
SPI will not require a child or person who has parental responsibility for them to confront the subject of the concern. SPI will not attempt to conduct its own criminal or child-protection investigation.
8. Concerns about another guest
Where the concern involves another guest, SPI may take reasonable action including:
- speaking to the people involved;
- separating guests or changing investigation arrangements;
- issuing a reasonable instruction or warning;
- restricting participation in an activity;
- requiring a guest to leave the Event where appropriate; or
- contacting the Venue, police or another appropriate authority where necessary.
Serious safeguarding concerns do not need to wait for SPI’s normal warning process under the Guest Code of Conduct.
9. Child-on-child concerns
Concerns involving behaviour between children or young people will not automatically be dismissed as ordinary disagreement or “kids being kids”.
SPI will consider the circumstances and seriousness of the behaviour, including where there are concerns involving:
- bullying;
- harassment;
- violence;
- coercion;
- sexualised behaviour;
- intimidation;
- discriminatory abuse; or
- exploitation.
The appropriate response will depend on the circumstances.
10. Physical contact and personal boundaries
SPI operates a general no-unwanted-contact approach.
Members of SPI should maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children and young people.
Physical contact should only occur where reasonably appropriate, for example:
- where necessary to prevent immediate injury;
- in an emergency;
- where a person requests reasonable assistance; or
- as part of an appropriate activity where the nature of the contact has been made clear and is suitable.
Unnecessary, inappropriate or sexualised physical contact with an under-18 attendee is not acceptable.
11. One-to-one situations
An under-18 attendee must remain with a parent or another person who has parental responsibility for the child throughout the Event.
An under-18 attendee must not deliberately be left one-to-one with an SPI team member or volunteer. A temporary exception is permitted only where immediately necessary for safety, medical care or safeguarding, and the child’s welfare takes priority.
12. Photography, filming and recording
SPI exercises additional care where photographs, video or audio involve an under-18 attendee.
SPI will not intentionally make an identifiable child the principal subject of promotional advertising, an interview or a testimonial without appropriate permission from a parent or another person who has parental responsibility for the child. The young person’s own wishes will also be taken into account.
Further information is in Photography & Filming at SPI Events.
13. Online and private communication
SPI will seek to keep Event-related communications involving an under-18 attendee appropriate and transparent.
Where practicable, communications concerning a child’s attendance should be conducted through or include a parent or another person who has parental responsibility for the child rather than creating unnecessary private communications between a member of SPI and the child.
Members of SPI must not use their role to pursue inappropriate personal or sexual communication with an under-18 attendee.
14. Alcohol and illegal drugs
Alcohol and illegal drugs are not permitted at SPI Events. Legitimately prescribed medication is not prohibited.
A person who has parental responsibility for the child must remain capable of properly supervising them throughout the Event.
15. Event suitability
Permitting under-18 attendees at one SPI Event does not mean they may attend every Event. Under-18 participation must end before 2:00am, and an individual Event may set an earlier finishing time.
Venue hazards, restricted areas, safeguarding arrangements, sensitive content and other genuine Event-specific circumstances may also make an Event unsuitable.
Age Requirements at SPI Events explains these requirements in more detail.
16. Information sharing and confidentiality
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively.
SPI cannot promise absolute confidentiality where information may need to be disclosed in order to protect a child or another person.
Where lawful and reasonably necessary, relevant information may be shared with organisations or individuals such as:
- the police;
- emergency services;
- a local authority or safeguarding service;
- the Venue;
- another appropriate safeguarding body; or
- another person or organisation reasonably necessary to protect somebody from harm.
Information will not be shared more widely than reasonably necessary.
17. Records and personal information
SPI may keep appropriate records of safeguarding concerns, decisions and actions where reasonably necessary.
Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data-protection law and SPI’s Privacy Notice.
Safeguarding records may need to be retained for longer than ordinary customer-service correspondence where there is a legitimate safeguarding, legal, insurance or evidential reason to do so.
18. Complaints and safeguarding concerns
Ordinary complaints about SPI may be handled under SPI’s Complaints Procedure.
Where a complaint also raises a safeguarding concern, SPI may use its safeguarding arrangements rather than treating the matter solely as a customer-service complaint.
A safeguarding concern may also be reported directly to an appropriate external authority where the circumstances justify it.
19. External safeguarding support
SPI’s arrangements do not prevent anyone from contacting an appropriate external authority.
Where appropriate, concerns may be raised with:
- the police;
- the relevant local authority children’s safeguarding service;
- the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer where an allegation concerns someone working or volunteering with children; or
- another appropriate safeguarding organisation.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
20. Relationship with other SPI policies
This information should be read together with:
- Age Requirements at SPI Events
- Guest Code of Conduct
- Accessibility at SPI Events
- Photography & Filming at SPI Events
- Complaints Procedure
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Notice
- any relevant Event-specific information provided before booking.
21. Contact SPI
Safeguarding questions or concerns may be sent to:
Spooky Paranormal Investigations Ltd
Email:
hello@spookypi.co.uk
Company number:
16540220
Registered office:
71–75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9JQ
Website:
spookypi.co.uk