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AIBU?

To think that Aysha is another part of a police cover up?

118 replies

Mellowdramatically · 02/09/2014 08:15

Why is one little boy taking up so much police time and money? And why is he being talked about so much and taking up so much news coverage? Yes it's extremely sad, but every day there are thousands of sad cases around the world that we aren't that interested in.

Lots of people can't understand why the police are going in so heavy handed.

Does anyone else think it might be to stop us talking about this?

OP posts:

Report

Pseudonym99 · 02/09/2014 11:21

The original story on BBC news (since removed/altered, probably under legal advice) said he'd been taken 'without consent' from the hospital. Consent of who? The doctors? Only those with parental responsibility can give consent on behalf of a child, and the child had that! It sounds like the hospital are the ones at fault - doctors and the NHS need to stop abusing their delusions of authority. I seem to recall a couple of years or so ago some parents got arrested on the advice of Southampton hospital over some non-existant abuse.

badtime · 02/09/2014 11:32

The reason the police were so heavy handed was because there is a history of cases where parents run off with children to avoid having medical treatment (although I think it happens less in the UK than in many other countries). Does anyone remember Neon Roberts?

There are issues with what has happened since they were found, but the search protocol was based on a genuine child protection issue.

GratefulHead · 02/09/2014 11:33

The police are just hampered by what information they are given.

A seriously ill child.
Removed from hospital by parents.
No knowledge about where child is or if his needs are being met.

All equal a child potentially at risk of serious harm.

The police under all this advice have a duty TO THE CHILD.

Can you imagine if the patents had been very neglectful and a child died. What would have been the response then? Oh yeah "AIBU in thinking the police should have done more"?

I think in this case, with the info they had that they acted appropriately.

Pseudonym99 · 02/09/2014 11:39

The police may have acted appropriately, on the information given to them by other 'professionals'. Those other 'professionals' have to explain their actions, but will claim confidentiality to get around that. But, as always, there is likely to be information that has not been reported in the media.

GimmeMySquash · 02/09/2014 11:53

OP, YC will be asking questions in House of commons in a bit regarding Rotherham.

GimmeMySquash · 02/09/2014 11:54

On the other thread, they noted Neon's Mum was asking for Proton treatment too, along with alternative treatments.

Topaz25 · 02/09/2014 11:55

Ashya was in a fragile state of health, hadn't been discharged from hospital and wasn't well enough to travel. Of course it was important the authorities ascertained his welfare. There was no way of knowing why the family had taken him because initially they didn't tell anyone. That was bound to cause concern and an investigation. Yes, he's their child but he was under the care of a hospital and wasn't well enough to leave. They didn't clear their trip with the hospital, they just disappeared. I think an investigation in that situation is expected, not some kind of cover-up and if the police had not found the child and he had died then people would be asking why they hadn't done more.

GimmeMySquash · 02/09/2014 11:59

I gather as well that the press mislead the public regarding the date Ashya had surgery, it wasn't a few days before he travelled apparently.

I can't see any excuse that would stop a 5 year old and a 3 year old who were used to hospital contact, continuing that relationship.

KneeQuestion · 02/09/2014 12:05

This was not a family who had been caring for their child with cancer for months on end. This was a family who 8 days before had thought he was well and then had a cancer diagnosis, surgery, cerebellar syndrome and intensive care

Thats not correct. [the 8 days bit]

He was diagnosed on 22nd july, operated on 24th july.

OP YABU.

fairgame · 02/09/2014 12:06

I live in s. Yorks and the Rotherham thing in on local news every day. It's certainly not gone quiet!

KneeQuestion · 02/09/2014 12:12

Video posted by Naveed King [Ashyas brother] on 28th july 2014

He was visiting him post surgery.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBTrZ7ULf3A

So why were the police [and the public] led to believe the surgery was more recent?

firesidechat · 02/09/2014 12:18

Ashya was in a fragile state of health, hadn't been discharged from hospital and wasn't well enough to travel. Of course it was important the authorities ascertained his welfare. There was no way of knowing why the family had taken him because initially they didn't tell anyone. That was bound to cause concern and an investigation. Yes, he's their child but he was under the care of a hospital and wasn't well enough to leave. They didn't clear their trip with the hospital, they just disappeared. I think an investigation in that situation is expected, not some kind of cover-up and if the police had not found the child and he had died then people would be asking why they hadn't done more.

That's how I feel too Topaz, but it appears to be a minority view on here and elsewhere.

By the way op, there is a program about Rotherham on radio 4 as I type. It is getting plenty of coverage.

wheresthelight · 02/09/2014 12:21

and if the police had done nothing and that little boy had died you would be slagging them off here too.

they did their job based on the information they were given. the ones at fault if there is any fault to be apportioned lies with the hospital.

DogCalledRudis · 02/09/2014 12:31

Maybe not a police cover up, but more likely a campaign to throw dirt at NHS.

meddie · 02/09/2014 12:41

The police and the hospital acted appropriately in the circumstances.
The hospital have a duty of care to their patients. A child who had recently undergone major brain surgery and was dependent on Ng feeds for his hydration and nutrition disappeared. (the parents had told staff they were going to the hospital Costco). Presented with those facts they had no other option but to alert SS and the police.

They cant just assume the parents will be catering to all the childs needs. its not just about feeding, but regular monitoring, blood tests, what if the child developed an infection, a further bleed, seisures or deteriorated,. The parents dont have the skills , knowledge or access to equipment they would need. Given that they had chosen to remove him from a hospital, how likely would they have been to present him to another hospital if he deteriorated, seen as trust was already lost, so it was very definitely a child protection issue.To not act would have been negligent on their part.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 02/09/2014 12:52

Rofling at an OP who is preaching to the MN masses about informing ourselves on Rotherham whilst 'fessing she was on holiday at the time thus missing the eleventy billion threads on it.

Ashya' s parents were desperate and acted in what they felt were the child's best interests. Sadly, removing him from hospital and crossing borders with him was never going to be allowed to stand. They were desperate and also bloody stupid.

I wish them and their child well but wtf has this to do with historic child abuse elsewhere in the UK? Is there some BBC quota the OP knows about? Only one child at a time on the news?

atos35 · 02/09/2014 12:56

So do you think this is a police cover up or a press cover up? You think the press are covering a story about a little boy being ill so as to help the police cover up their wrong doings? Even though the BBC devoted a whole programme to the fact that the police appear to have been turning a blind eye (panorama last night). I don't think you are wrong that perhaps the police have some questions to answer regarding the Rotherham cases but I think you are being a bit paranoid suggesting the press are in cahoots with the police to cover up.

Bulbasaur · 02/09/2014 13:03

But why is so much effort going into one child?

Eyeballs = Revenue.

Meaning the more people watch a story, the more money it makes. Therefore they will continue making stories about it.

The news is a business. Not a police run conspiracy.

If people have stopped talking about Rotherham, it's because people don't care and have stopped clicking the links or watching TV when it comes on.

ouryve · 02/09/2014 13:14

Many kids who have been taken out of the country when there's a reason for them not to be have police time and money devoted to them. In this case, the child has cancer and the media loves a good child with cancer story, unfortunately.

Applefallingfromthetree2 · 02/09/2014 13:16

Cupofsneeze-you have it in one!

GimmeMySquash · 02/09/2014 13:35

As I said on the other thread, at leas the Liverpool Policeman can sleep easy "nobody died" he was party to destroying the lives and possible last days of an ill 5 year old's life, of distressing his siblings and parents, hey that is ok, as long as nobody died eh!

MrsBoldon · 02/09/2014 14:55

A very sick child being taken out of the country sells newspapers.

Simple as that.

Children being abused doesn't. With everything that has come out about child abuse in the last few years (particularly when you throw high profile names into the mix) I think people are getting to the stage where they're far more shocked if abuse ISN'T going on.

And large scale abuse of disadvantaged children is so vast that people struggle with the complexities of it. The accusations against major institutions including the Police and with the Rotherham case in particular, issues around culture, racism or fear of being racist etc etc.

But one kid who might be dying. ..everyone can think 'oh how awful' and everyone feels sympathy and it's very, very straightforward for the public.

GimmeMySquash · 02/09/2014 15:28

I feel bad for the 24 hour news teams right now, juggling Ashya King, Rotherham and Cliff Richard house search police being questioned.

saltnpepa · 02/09/2014 16:40

Yes

edamsavestheday · 02/09/2014 16:44

MrsB, the media were asked to put out an appeal by the police. I don't know why you think they should have hushed it up!

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