This Government index will put every child in Britain at risk (unless their parents are celebrities or politicians)
Eileen Fairweather, the journalist who helped expose the Islington child abuse scandal, writes in the Mail on Sunday about the Children’s Index:
I have investigated child abuse scandals for nearly 20 years and interviewed many paedophiles.
Most, I am certain, will feel that, with the index, all their birthdays have come at once. It will help them identify vulnerable children, plant malicious lies to discredit those who might speak up and discover – and possibly intimidate – those already doing so.
Paranoid? Sadly not. I have seen children’s files manipulated in this way time and again – particularly in Islington, the London borough whose 12 children’s homes were infiltrated by child sex-ring procurers while Margaret Hodge was council leader.
How ironic the index is her legacy, shepherded in while she was Children’s Minister.
Does she still not understand how paedophiles operate? Many choose work with children, targeting councils, schools, hospitals and the police.
She also doubts that the Index would prevent another Climbie tragedy:
The index was conceived after the murder in 2000 of Victoria Climbie by her aunt. Its creators said the case proved more information and file-sharing were needed.
But I undertook the journalistic investigation that exposed how Haringey social services ordered a junior social worker to stop visiting Victoria. The problem was not inadequate data but stupid people.
The Government ministers who launched the index doubtless believe it will ensure child safety. They cannot see the dangers as their instincts remain Stalinist – to control through information.
…
Back on the social-work frontline, resources, training and staff have been slashed and the Child Protection Register – which genuinely protects children – is being abolished.
Instead, millions of pounds are being diverted to pen-pushers, IT experts, consultants and “assessors”, leaving Britain’s children over-surveilled and under-protected.
September 3rd, 2006 at 20:15
Yes,this is typical of the bureaucratic totalitarian state we are heading for.Divert as much money as possible into more state bureaucracy and unwanted or useless schemes.why the hell is the Child Protection Register being abolished,or is this one of uncle tony,s great reform,s which we know won,t work.Still I expect his offspring will be safely hidden away on their own little register ,safe from prying eyes.When will people wake up to the dangers this Neo Nazi government will put all our children under.
Before anyone disagrees with me I would ;ike to qualify my previous remark,Blair and the rest of his goons in the cabinet have taken the Labour party so far to the right,that they make most of Thatchers policies seem quite liberal.
October 15th, 2006 at 20:50
I have to agree with everything being said here.
What grieves me is how much the British will take. If we were in a South American country the whole government would have been dragged out and hung up by now. The only consolation I can see is in the following phrase:-
“Beware the anger of a patient man”
and I hope he is not patient for much longer.