reclassification of child abuse as national threat, how will it be policed?

[ChoochiWhoo]

The gyst is that protection services who fail consistently could be inprisoned in light of cases such as recent child abuse scandals. Will mr DC be funding these systems better though? Lack of funding is a huge Issue, and Im also a bit that this is only a national threat as a bunch of girls from Oxford have been involved smacks of classism to me. news.sky.com/story/1437290/pm-children-abused-on-industrial-scale

The answer to your subject heading is "badly".

Hmmm, i think so too plus they are already so stretched, will he be kicking arse of management or the poor overstretched sw's.

As a trained child protection social worker this terrifies me and i am seriously thinking of moving to another SW discipline. Yes, these young girls have been let down badly and changes need to be made but seeking to jail staff isn't helpful. What is needed are more properly trained, front line staff but of course this costs money and LA's have no money. It all just goes round and round in ever decreasing circles.

Btw, it isn't just the girls in Oxford but also those in Rotherham and Rochdale so there is no 'classism'.

It's the right thing to do, or try to do..YABU

I don't agree that its "the right thing to do" because it's all just hot air and social work bodies would tend to agree. Actions speak louder than words.

I don't agree that the status quo is the right thing to do either.

The article made a point of the Oxford and the Rotherham/Rochdale were past issues ...either way I feel for the social workers.

The girls from Oxford were all in care so it's hardly a class issue.

I think the proposal is a good one meself, as long as it's only used in clear cases where professionals have ignored allegations or not bothered to see them through to a reasonable conclusion.

They were not all in care.

I don't think there's anyone in the profession who likes the status quo.

So are they just talking about sexual exploitation case or will this be rolled out to other cases where allegations have been made and not followed up? It is the thin end of the wedge as i see it. Child protection is not clear cut and it can be a minefield trying to work out what is going on.

Either they prosecute them for willfully ignoring the pain and crimes happening under their noses, thus tacitly allowing it to keep on going, or they do a big house cleaning and big lay-off. Professionals are to be kept accountable. People's, vulnerable persons' lives are at stake.
It's not a problem of training anymore, but a matter of morals and whether or not a person is able or willing to help people.

"It's not a problem of training anymore, but a matter of morals and whether or not a person is able or willing to help people."

This is very naive.

It is not just an issue of training, the funding is a huge, huge, huge big blaring issue.

Oh, agree on the funding, of course! You are right on this point.

But you can throw money at donkeys, they will not become racehorses.

Is there anyone who doesn't agree with this who also doesn't agree with prosecutions in cases of medical negligence?

I don't think it's that different really. If you willfully fuck-up when doing an important job and somebody's life is damaged as a result, then there should be consequences.

In most of these cases the issues arose as many (but not all) the men involved were Asian and were often people of good standing in the community and a lot of the girls were considered 'trouble' as opposed to ''troubled'. The power that be didn't want to be seen as racist which really beggars belief. In my experience abusers can be any age, nationality, class etc.

I sincerely hope lesson have been learned and this does not happen again. I know sexual exploitation is now a high agenda topic in Child Protection which is very positive. I have recently been to a conference where that was the lead topic and have done a great deal of reading on the subject just to make sure i am well informed.

How will it be policed?

Not at all is the answer. The "proposals" are just another David Cameron soundbite in an election year. History as soon as the words were out of his mouth. I'll be amazed if anything happens.

As for "Oxford" being a class issue, don't forget Cameron sits for an Oxfordshire constituency. This latest case is on his home turf so to speak.

FabUloose are you are you aware in the Rotherham case class wasbig reason why they were disbelieved/neglected? I apologise if the comment offends any posters , but class IS relevant here, like the 'care home girls' Savile and his kind abused , class has always been an Issues in these cases and how seriously privileged professionals take them,

Agreed OP. Class is an issue in these cases.

Class is an issue as in the perceived class of the perpetrators versus the class of the girls being abused.

It is not an issue as in Oxford versus Rochdale. The actual abuse is the same no matter where it is carried out.

Choochi you seem to be saying that this is only being taken seriously as a national threat because the girls were from Oxford and of a different class to the girls from Rotherham and Rochdale, yet if you read the reports the girls involved were in much the same circumstances as the girls from Rotherham and Rochdale many were in care and known to Social Services and were dismissed in exactly the same manner and for exactly the same reasons. So what exactly is your point re 'classism'?

As to the proposals, yes the professional services should be held accountable, maybe the possibility of a jail sentence may focus their minds and help to change this prevailing culture.

All the agencies and staff involved should be ashamed of themselves but they are all too busy covering their own backsides.

This is a good book on the subject of sexual exploitation if anyone is interested.