Whenever I see that young face in a blue jumper looking up from the newspaper, I see two small milk teeth and realise he never had a chance to grow a full set, and just wonder how many of his 440 days of life those eyes did NOT cry?
Baby Peter was murdered, what part of that does Lord Justice Hughes not understand? The 3 people Peter had no alternative but to put his 'trust' in, as he surely could not run to another family member or a neighbour or even phone Childline, as they were 'responsible' for his care but they betrayed that trust with systematic torture and abuse, not a fall down the stairs or walk into a door!
As any parent will tell you if your child cry's out, even if you think they are joshing, you still take the time to make sure they are OK! So how on earth can this poor innocent soul sustain 50+ injuries and so called professionals could not spot one with the same number of visits as he had injuries? So to this end I believe Sharon Shoesmith who was ultimately responsible should not be windging about a loss of her lucrative job, she should be thanking her lucky stars she is not being prosecuted for neglect and dereliction of duty as I surely would if, at the wheel of a 40 to truck. I ploughed into a car killing the occupants and whilst my momentary lapse of concentration also would show no intent, as in this case, I would still expect to receive a 6 to 24 month sentence!
Sadly this story is only the most tragic tip of a far deeper failure affecting Social Services throughout the land and this poor system touches every council to a varying degree and whilst Ed Balls is content to make cut backs on Education on the one hand, he will throw in the region of £800,000 at each council just to employ more social workers into the failed system rather then the reform of working practice he assured us of in the wake of the Baby Peter, Victoria Climbe and Khyra Ishaq horror stories besides the ones that never make the National headlines!
It should also be noted that Family Law Court Judges rely too heavily in my view (and many others) on reports from this self same industry of incompetence so children are going into care on the first visit (unlike Peter) just because a neighbour has complained of a dog barking in the house nearby, and whilst cruelty was never proved the small daughter has been lost in the irreversible, it seems, system ('Jenny' on the south coast). The judge never makes a judgement as they cannot enforce their own court orders anyway but they have become and administrative extension to this appalling law. It should also be noted that OFSTED gave Haringay Council a clean bill of health the week Baby Peter died but, but had to back track very rapidly with a damming report soon afterwards;
Baby Peter was murdered, what part of that does Lord Justice Hughes not understand? The 3 people Peter had no alternative but to put his 'trust' in, as he surely could not run to another family member or a neighbour or even phone Childline, as they were 'responsible' for his care but they betrayed that trust with systematic torture and abuse, not a fall down the stairs or walk into a door!
As any parent will tell you if your child cry's out, even if you think they are joshing, you still take the time to make sure they are OK! So how on earth can this poor innocent soul sustain 50+ injuries and so called professionals could not spot one with the same number of visits as he had injuries? So to this end I believe Sharon Shoesmith who was ultimately responsible should not be windging about a loss of her lucrative job, she should be thanking her lucky stars she is not being prosecuted for neglect and dereliction of duty as I surely would if, at the wheel of a 40 to truck. I ploughed into a car killing the occupants and whilst my momentary lapse of concentration also would show no intent, as in this case, I would still expect to receive a 6 to 24 month sentence!
Sadly this story is only the most tragic tip of a far deeper failure affecting Social Services throughout the land and this poor system touches every council to a varying degree and whilst Ed Balls is content to make cut backs on Education on the one hand, he will throw in the region of £800,000 at each council just to employ more social workers into the failed system rather then the reform of working practice he assured us of in the wake of the Baby Peter, Victoria Climbe and Khyra Ishaq horror stories besides the ones that never make the National headlines!
It should also be noted that Family Law Court Judges rely too heavily in my view (and many others) on reports from this self same industry of incompetence so children are going into care on the first visit (unlike Peter) just because a neighbour has complained of a dog barking in the house nearby, and whilst cruelty was never proved the small daughter has been lost in the irreversible, it seems, system ('Jenny' on the south coast). The judge never makes a judgement as they cannot enforce their own court orders anyway but they have become and administrative extension to this appalling law. It should also be noted that OFSTED gave Haringay Council a clean bill of health the week Baby Peter died but, but had to back track very rapidly with a damming report soon afterwards;
HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THIS BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE?
My inaugural blog on this subject is dedicated to my friend the late Ian Mackay who supported me as a McKenzie friend when the money ran out in my case, and worked so hard to see a change in this failure of a system, He is the first person to speak in the following film.
Davey Says;
ReplyDeleteCome on then you lot, lets get this show on the road!
Could Gloria Hunniford do for kids what Joanna Lumley did for the Gurkha's?
ReplyDeleteJustice! There are two ways to stop the current malaise in society that separates children from the stability of family life and turning many into feral youths. who do not care about tomorrow and as a result fuels the flames that causes a 'Broken Britain!'
Firstly; when a couple separates instead of making for the family lawyer, they should in fact sit in front of a mediator who will assess the situation and generally offer 'both' parties £500 legal aid and a single court appearance, putting the onus on a couple
to find a resolution to their difficulty and to agree to a contact and financial contract which is binding in law until the youngest child leaves full time education. This should then make 'both' parents equally responsible for child welfare and maintenance! Should either parent wish to take the matter back to court beyond this, they have to fund this themselves and this should focus their minds on getting it right first time and stop 'fee earning' solicitors exacerbating matter so they can bankrupt Dad, whilst plundering the legal aid purse indefinitely for Mum!
Secondly; No intervention by CAFCASS or other social services at this stage and once a timetable (that may be allowed to vary as the child grows) and finances has been agreed with a judge (not a court reporter) if he still has a concern then the judge should be empowered to contact the family GP and schools for a report on the health and well being of a child who would have a better understanding then a 'snap shot' taken by a social worker. This will then release the social service from a duty they are ill informed to pursue and normally results in them generating future work for themselves, when they should be reformed and working harder to prevent cases such as Baby'P', Victoria Climbe and Khyra Ishaq!
This should be regarded as law and the law is Parental Responsibility which should be enforceable with the prospect of a 6 month jail term minimal for 'either' parent if they break the terms of this contract for life! (Childhood is such a short span of time)
It would also be useful to inform a child at the age of 11 that both parents on the birth certificate are responsible for their children till the age of 18, it may then focus their mind as they entre the peer and social pressures of secondary education that under age sex could have a lasting effect on their lives, not only from a personal health stand point, but also the prospect of 16 to18 years of child care when they are at an age when they probably want to do something else.This should help them wait to become mature enough to take on such an undertaking. Also if a child was to commit a crime between the age of 10 and 16 with the current perceived immunity, their parents would face the court and be prosecuted for dereliction of duty under the care of their children with a fine or if serious enough prison.
The Tory party have also announced that they wish to make Grandparents and extended family the first port of call for child care rather then social services, who should be a last resort after the possibilities have been explored for a grandparents to take charge whilst a parent resolves their difficulties offering continuity and and stability at a fraught stage in a child's life something once again social services will never do so it is better they concentrate on more extreme cases as described recently by the director of Barnardos.
I really hope Gloria Hunniford, in her capacity as patron of the parents organisation, can encourage these bastions of commonsense and stability to consider the welfare of a grandchild , niece or nephew and in turn put right this God awful law that has blighted people for so long and in my view poses a greater risk to normal society then the threat of terrorism!
I think we should salute the Mother of all the Groups,and inspirational Men,and Women, that help and campaign for the rights of Parents,and children that suffer injustice and despair via Social Services,and the secret family Courts.
ReplyDeleteSue Amphlett the founder of PAIN, who in 1985 had the courage,and perseverance to form the first ever Group of its kind in the County.
Through personal experiance of being accused of fracturing her Daughters arm,and having her childrens names put on at the at risk,Sue was so incensed by the horrendous experiance, that she formed Parents Against Injustice, which within the first year became a registered charity.
In its hayday PAIN would receive up to 1000 cases a month,and was funded by the department of health,PAIN consisted of three paid workers. Sue Amphlett, the Director, Barry Barton,a very flamboyant chairperson,and press officer,and a Secretary whos name i cant remember, with Barrys whit,and Sues knowledge PAIN became a legend.
Sue contributed to many television, seminars,and radio broadcasts,and talks Nationaly and Worldwide,and has had many articles published, just put her name into google and see what you find.
I became involved with PAIN in 1986,after being accused of child abuse, after our youngest Son sustained a fracture by jumping from the side of the bath,and landed awkwardly.
He was taken into Foster Care on a place of safety order, i mannaged to get hold of PAINs telephone number,and was put in touch with Nottingham based childrens panel Solicitor John Atkinson, with Johns superb profeshionalism,and Sues empathy and knowledge, we mannaged get through the worst experiance of our lives.
Our son was returned twelve weeks later after the powers to be, backed down,and said the incident could of been accidental, Scott was returned to us,and was diagnosed with brittle bone disease six months later.
I became the Midlands adviser for PAIN,and continued eversince.
The Department of health took the groups funding away in 2001,and Sue went onto pastures new, but i carried on giving advice and support, until Chris Smith,and Trevor Jones joined the team.
I am indebted to Sue Amphlett, John Atkinson,and Colin Patterson for life,and if i had not made that telephone call on that dismal April day, we wouldnt have our beautifull Baby Grandaughter Hollie Jade in our lives today.