No Mercy Wrestling is committed to Safeguarding in line with national legislation and relevant national and local guidelines. In addition to this, we will be in constant contact with local safeguarding boards to ensure our practises are not only up to date, but are consistent for our promotion. To do this we will safeguard adults by ensuring that our events and activities are delivered in a way which keeps all adults safe.
No Mercy Wrestling is committed to creating a culture of zero-tolerance of any kind of harm to adults/children which necessitates: the recognition of adults who may be at risk and the circumstances which may increase risk; knowing how adults abuse, how exploitation or neglect manifests itself; and being willing to report safeguarding concerns. This policy will serve to show the process and definitions we will take to do this.
No Mercy Wrestling is committed to the use of the best safeguarding practice and to uphold the rights of all persons to live a life free from harm from abuse, exploitation and neglect. We will do this with additional policies that will outline codes of conduct expected from talent and staff working for us, as well as disciplinary guidelines should we need to investigate concerns.
Policy Statement
No Mercy Wrestling believes everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect regardless of age, ability or disability, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status. No Mercy Wrestling is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture where people feel able to share concerns without fear of retribution.
No Mercy Wrestling acknowledges that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and is committed to prevent abuse and neglect through safeguarding the welfare of any and all people involved.
No Mercy Wrestling recognises that health, well-being, ability, disability and need for care and support can affect a person’s resilience. We recognise that some people experience barriers, for example; communication in raising concerns or seeking help. We also recognise these can change and vary at different points of a person's life.
No Mercy Wrestling recognises that there is currently no governing body to safeguard people who have needs for care and support within the professional wrestling industry, but we are fully committed to protecting those who are unable to take action to protect themselves, and will act in accordance with the relevant safeguarding legislation and with local statutory safeguarding procedures.
Actions taken by No Mercy Wrestling will be consistent with the principles of safeguarding, ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the person concerned using ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to demonstrate the commitment of No Mercy Wrestling to safeguarding and to ensure that everyone involved in No Mercy Wrestling is aware of:
● The legislation, policy and procedures for safeguarding
● Their role and responsibility for safeguarding
● What to do or who to speak to if they have a concern relating to the welfare or
wellbeing of any person involved within the promotion.
This safeguarding policy and associated procedures apply to all individuals involved with No Mercy Wrestling including, but not limited to; Management, Staff, Talent, Referees/Officials, Crew and any other persons booked to work/volunteer at our events.
We expect our partner organisations, affiliated promotions, suppliers and sponsors to adopt and demonstrate their commitment to the principles and practice as set out in this Safeguarding Adults Policy and associated procedures.
Commitments
In order to implement this policy, No Mercy Wrestling will ensure that;
● Everyone involved with No Mercy Wrestling is aware of the safeguarding procedures and knows what to do and who to contact if they have a concern relating to the welfare or wellbeing of any/all individuals
● All concerns are taken seriously, responded to promptly, and followed up in line with No Mercy Wrestling Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
● The well-being of those at risk of harm will be put first and the person actively supported to communicate their views and the outcomes they want to achieve using ‘Making Safeguarding Personal.’ Those views and wishes will be respected and supported unless there are overriding reasons not to.
● Any actions taken will respect the rights and dignity of all those involved and be proportionate to the risk of harm.
● Confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored in line with Data Protection Policy and Procedures.
● No Mercy Wrestling will act in accordance with best practice advice, for example, from UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Wales, Sport Scotland, Sport Northern Ireland, National Governing Bodies, NSPCC, Ann Craft Trust, and local authority Safeguarding Boards, until such a time a Governing Body is created for Professional Wrestling.
● No Mercy Wrestling will cooperate with the Police and the relevant Local Authorities in taking action with safeguarding.
● All No Mercy Wrestling management, staff, talent, referees/officials and any other person working for the company will understand their role and responsibility for safeguarding.
● Information about anyone found to be a risk to any/all persons will be promptly shared with the appropriate bodies. For example: Disclosure and Barring Service, Police, Local Authority/Social Services.
This policy will be reviewed annually or during the following circumstances;
● A National Governing Body (NGB) for Professional Wrestling is created
● There is a change in legislation
● There is a significant event or change within the wrestling industry.
Implementation
No Mercy Wrestling is committed to developing and maintaining the implementation of this policy and all other procedures. In order to do so the following will be in place:
● Having a clear line of accountability within the organisation for the safety and welfare of all persons.
● Ensuring access to relevant legal and professional advice where necessary.
● Regular Safeguarding Officer reports detailing how risks to safeguarding are being addressed and how any reports have been addressed. This will be carried out in conjunction with No Mercy Wrestling management and other relevant safeguarding organisations.
● Safeguarding procedures that deal effectively with any concerns of abuse or neglect, including those caused through poor practice or cultures within the industry.
● A Safeguarding Officer will be put in place at No Mercy Wrestling, and will be reviewed (and possibly re-appointed) every 12 months.
● Clear lines of communication so as to work effectively with other relevant organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of all.
● Codes of conduct for Management, Crew, Talent and Referees that specify zero tolerance of abuse in any form.
● Risk assessments that specifically include safeguarding of all persons.
● Policies and procedures that address consistency with this Safeguarding Adults policy and our commitment to the safety of adults.
It can be difficult to tell the difference between poor practice and abuse, whether intentional or accidental. It is not the responsibility of any individual involved with No Mercy Wrestling to make judgements regarding whether or not abuse is taking place. We do recognise however that we have the responsibility to identify poor practice and potential abuse, and act upon this if we have concerns. We will also vocally implement well-being as it is threaded throughout the Care Act. While we all have our own definition of what well-being is deemed as and what it should look like, the following list addresses the standards of well-being No Mercy Wrestling will be including;
• Personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect)
• Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Protection from abuse and neglect
• Participation in work, education, training or recreation
• Social and economic wellbeing
• Domestic, family and personal domains
• Suitability of the individual’s living accommodation
• The individual’s contribution to society.
Legislation
The legislation, practise and procedures used in this policy are based on definitions and principles with UK Legislation and Government Guidance. They take the following into consideration;
• The Care Act 2014
• The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012
• The Equality Act 2010
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• The Human Rights Act 1998
• The Data Protection Act 1998
Definitions
The following definitions are used when understanding No Mercy Wrestling’s Safeguarding Policy:
● An Adult is anyone aged 18 or over.
● Adult at Risk is a person aged 18 or over who has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the
experience of, abuse or neglect.
● Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons.
● Adult Safeguarding is protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
● Capacity refers to the ability to make a decision at a particular time, for example when under considerable stress. The starting assumption must always be that a person has the capacity to make a decision unless it can be established that they lack capacity (MCA 2005).
Types of Abuse and Neglect
The Care Act 2014 identifies the following 10 behaviours as signs of abuse. This list is a guide and is not intended to be a definitive list of what can or may be reported as a safeguarding concern.
• Physical abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping and pushing. Within Professional Wrestling this also includes restraint or inappropriate sanctions. This includes, but is not limited to; “giving receipts”, intentionally “stiffing” your opponent or any other wrestling related hazing and horseplay.
• Sexual abuse – including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
• Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation and withdrawal from services.
• Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
• Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an person's financial affairs or arrangements.
• Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. Discrimination is abuse which centres on a difference or perceived difference of protected characteristics of the Equality Act.
• Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings.
• Domestic violence and coercive control – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence. Domestic abuse is not specific or limited to spousal abuse and can involve family members.
• Modern slavery – encompasses human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.
• Organisational abuse – includes poor practises, lack of procedure and structure, it can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation. Organisational abuse is very prevalent in professional wrestling and due to no regulatory
body in the industry, it is important to know the signs. Organisational abuse may range from one off incidents to on-going ill treatment. Organisational abuse can involve more than one abuser and can surround a culture that doesn’t recognise or respond to actions of an abuser/abusers. You may see this type of poor practice as a result of the lack of structure, accountability, policies, processes and practices within a promotion.
Not included in the Care Act 2014 but also relevant:
● Cyber Bullying – Cyber bullying is when somebody repeatedly sends abuse to another person online. It can come in many forms but may include abuse sent via emails, text messages, online forums or any other use of social media with the intention to harm, damage, humiliate or isolate another person. Cyber bullying can be used to carry out many types of abuse and hate speech (such as racist, homophobic or
identity bullying) but in stead of the offender carrying out the bullying face-to-face, they will use technology instead.
● Cyber Crime – Cyber crime continues to rise worldwide and affects businesses and individuals alike. Cyber Crime can include: Hacking (particularly of social media accounts or emails), Phishing (fake emails that ask for passwords and personal information to then obtain often financial information), Malicious Software (including ransomware which criminals hijack files and hold them to ransom) and Distributed
Denial of Service Attacks (DDoS) against websites.
● Mate Crime – Defined by the Safety Net Project as ‘when vulnerable people are befriended by members of the community who go on to exploit and take advantage of them. It may not be an illegal act but still has a negative effect on the individual.’ Mate Crime is usually carried out by someone the victim knows personally, and often happens in private. It may also involve ‘cuckooing’ (when an individual moves into a home to enact abuse or take advantage of a vulnerable individual in their own home. It’s often associated with ‘county lines’ exploitation, but may also see individuals at risk taken advantage of in other ways as listed in the types of abuse above.)
● Radicalisation – The aim of radicalisation is to attract people to their reasoning, recruit people and embed their extreme views and persuade vulnerable individuals of the legitimacy of their cause. This may be direct through a relationship, or through social media.
No Mercy Wrestling’s 6 Safeguarding Principles
Six key principles underpin all safeguarding work. At No Mercy Wrestling we will ensure that we implement:
• Empowerment – People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent. We will support this with our own policies and procedures so anyone can tell their story with consent and in a safe environment. We will also actively find support for those who need it.
• Prevention – It is better to take action before harm occurs. To do this, alongside our policies and procedures, we will ensure we consistently and effectively educate ourselves on safeguarding, and ensure all members within our team and roster understand the signs to look out for when a person is at risk.
• Proportionality – We will make sure to take the least intrusive response with any safeguarding risks to limit the dangers to anyone making the reports and reduce potential harm. We will also work with them, in line with ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’ to ensure they have the right advice, plans and resources to support them.
• Protection – Support and representation for those in greatest need. To do this No Mercy Wrestling have been developing procedures to make sure we are up to date on standards and procedures with safeguarding. We will make sure that our staff members fully understand laws and rules in the UK and keep up to date on changes to any legislation. We will also speak to others within the industry, to ensure that all
safeguarding concerns are dealt with and any potential openings to abuse can be closed effectively and quickly.
• Partnership – We will work to find local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse, to do this we must keep an open line of communication with all involved in safeguarding.
• Accountability – We will ensure accountability and transparency is delivered in all areas of safeguarding. We will ensure all policies are kept up to date, and notify of any changes that are necessary. We will also make sure we continue to educate ourselves and our members on all areas and developments within safeguarding.
Making Safeguarding Personal
‘Making Safeguarding Personal’ is defined by the Ann Craft Trust as “person led and outcome focused”. It engages the person in a conversation about how best to respond to their safeguarding situation in a way that enhances involvement, choice and control. As well as improving quality of life, well-being and safety.”
Wherever it is possible, we will discuss safeguarding concerns with the adult to get their view of what they would like to happen. We will keep them involved in the safeguarding process, seeking their consent to share information outside of the organisation where necessary.