To be utterly heartbroken and also furious at the news of what went on in Lambeth council re children's homes? (TW)

[Graphista]

Just seen on the news the extent of how despicable and corrupt the situation was there in the 70's, 80's and beyond (that we know of!)

I know some of the perpetrators will be dead (and hopefully rotting in hell!)

But some will still be alive and could and SHOULD be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

That ANYONE who was involved in this and complicit if not actually abusive who is still working in anything remotely close to either a govt or local govt role should be sacked.

That those already retired should lose their pensions!

It's an absolute disgrace what happened.

The victims should receive - without having to suffer the indignity and distress of going to court or giving evidence - significant, life improving levels of compensation.

They and the rest of the country need assurances that this CANNOT and WILL NOT happen again. And that far more stringent and working processes be implemented to ensure that CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS are not allowed to work in any way - not even "administration" - within any local or national govt department that deals with looked after children.

Frankly this makes me feel even more strongly than ever that such offenders should NEVER be released anyway!

This news item had me in tears - and I'm not easily moved this way by such things, being a csa survivor myself

But it is utterly unconscionable what happened.

My heart breaks for the victims

If any of them are reading this or anyone who has experienced similar

It wasn't your fault

You're not worthless

You did not deserve this

There are people who care and understand

Still happening now. Hasn’t stopped

T be a looked after child is to be a child stigmatised

So if you say something is happening to you it’s not believed. 😥

Just remembered what I was going to say

'
The victims should receive - without having to suffer the indignity and distress of going to court or giving evidence - significant, life improving levels of compensation.'

On the BBC a very brave woman has spoken about what was done to her. It's incredibly upsetting.

She says she's never been able to get a decent job because criminal record.

Assume things related to having a terrible life/ being pimped. Alcohol drugs things around selling sex etc.

Having those convictions quashed would be a really good thing.

It wouldn't turn back the clock but it would stop these things which were done to them/ they did because they were in a really bad way from staying with them. And making their lives difficult for years down the line.

Is there a way we can do something about that? Write to MPs? Gov petition???

@NiceGerbil thanks for the heads up got it on now not watched newsnight for ages

Frankly yes there are laws - for perpetrators. I think especially in light of this AND Rotherham etc we need laws regarding those who are disclosed to. And if there are already (I'll admit I'm no expert on this) then they need to be enforced and prosecuted.

This absolutely IS in the public interest.

It should in my opinion be a CRIMINAL not a civil offence, to fail to act to protect someone reporting abuse when you've been TOLD in an official capacity.

In addition to what's already been discussed here THREE police forces - whole forces - in England were effectively put in "special measures" because they were found to be NOT EVEN RECORDING reports of abuse and sexual assault!

That's abhorrent!

That is exactly the very minimum police officers should be doing is maintaining accurate records of such reports.

I think one thing that could be done is regular auditing by people from OUTSIDE the area of the organisation being audited/checked.

Eg met audited by Dorset force, Bedfordshire by Cheshire, Lambeth council checked by Newcastle council etc

@MintyCedric so sorry for what your father and all of them went through and so sorry for your loss

We need much higher standards for those working with such children. Much higher.

Having those convictions quashed would be a really good thing.

Absolutely

There needs to be a co-ordinated review across , England and Wales it would be.

To look at all of these things as a piece.

Find the commonalities in who was targeted. How. What happened to reports. Why nothing was done. What the police etc did. What sort of situations are targeted and how they get in. All that.

It needs a NATIONAL STRATEGY.

and the same for sex offences and DV.

and the two themes are linked.

So they should share info.

That's what's needed.

I know the vast majority of sexual abusers are men

But there are many women that support these men, that are cruel too

This shouldn’t be overlooked. If you speak to anyone in care who has been a victim it will rarely just be a victim to one type of abuse (sexual) it will often be other forms of abuse and cruel behaviour they have suffered

This isn’t just about sexual abuse it’s about the complete mistreatment of the most vulnerable children in our society

Paedophiles aren't ever punished to the full extent here. An unfortunate fact.

It’s really easy gerbil to see who was targeted.

The forgotten children. No one cared. They had no one to speak or care for them.

The most vulnerable in all of us

We were forgeten

Anyway enough from me. Upsetting. Nothing I can do.

It's one hand being glad that this is coming more to light, on the other it still feels like a crumb of justice that it's both taken so long and worry about what's going on now with the lessons not being taken seriously enough.

I was reading last week of a similar situation in Germany - terribly abuse of foster children, mostly known shortly after the war though the last known victims were a pair of boys in the early '90s. So many years, so many harmed children, so many abusers getting away with it - some bloody praised for their services to these 'poor children' and so many records "lost" in building basements that we may never know the whole story of it.

@NiceGerbil you're right but needs to be whole of Uk

Our laws and sentencing for these creeps is pathetic!

England and Wales are separate to Scot and NI with laws police courts etc on this stuff

That's why I didn't include them

Yes it would be good to do all but having the cross jurisdiction coordination might slow it up and I'd be worried it could get political.

Littlbrowndog step away if you need to I'm sorry.

I more meant that while we know in this news who there's homes for children and adults with disabilities, the scouts where the children were not in care and so on.

There's targeting of children known to be vulnerable AND predators getting into positions where they have access to children and some kind of respected role.

It all needs to be tackled. All the places all the angles.

The commonality being the men who are determined to commit CSA and/ or involve other men. And that wherever it is it's ignored.

That's what's needed.

Yes but we are still part of the Uk and the children in those parts of the Uk are still abused

It’s a disgrace it really, years ago about 2000 there was a drama called Care and it was about homes 9n Wales same sort of thing. Disgusting behaviour it makes me so angry it really does.

What can we do about getting convictions quashed?

That sounds like a focussed aim, it's the right thing for authorities to do, and it will stop victims having it following them around and stuffing their lives up even further.

@Graphista

Yes but we are still part of the Uk and the children in those parts of the Uk are still abused

Yes I agree. I only said it because it's different laws systems etc. Not because I don't think it would be the best thing to do

In the end no way it will happen so.

I've written to my Mp (email) will see what he says.

Fed up of keeping on seeing reports like this and learning just how many people's lives have been destroyed by these creeps