Cruelty to children

[designSalmon]

I’ve just read the absolutely tragic story of Kaylee-Jayde Priest. I’ve just been crying my eyes out this evening over the loss of her very short life. She has hair just like my daughter,

I’d really like some recommendations on charities and organisations that try to make a real difference in cases such as these, so that I may make a donation etc.

Rest in peace little girl, I hope you will find the kindness, love and compassion you so deserve in heaven.

Thank you

Defence barristers argued some injuries to the 3ft 3ins child, including bruising, were from 'rough and tumble play'.

However, pathologists examining her body in a post-mortem counted a harrowing total of 68 'injuries', ranging from dark bruising and blue bruises, to red marks and abrasions.

Dear god - how could they even attempt that as a line of defence? Pathetic. What a way to earn a living.

What gets me is the systems need to protect these vile individuals. They are housed in segregation in prison 'for their own protection', some are even given new identities on release from their (pathetically short) prison sentence. The government bend over backwards to protect these scum, who was protecting the innocent children they were torturing? Makes me so angry it really does.

I agree. And I don’t believe it would be any better under a Labour government either - just look at Baby P. I despair, I really do.

@lllllllllll

Defence barristers argued some injuries to the 3ft 3ins child, including bruising, were from 'rough and tumble play'.

However, pathologists examining her body in a post-mortem counted a harrowing total of 68 'injuries', ranging from dark bruising and blue bruises, to red marks and abrasions.

Dear god - how could they even attempt that as a line of defence? Pathetic. What a way to earn a living.

Someone has to do it , for the justice system to work and try to ensure innocent people don't get railroaded or convicted. Obviously that means someone has to defend awful criminals too , even when they are caught red handed .

I’ve sent an email to my local MP about the matter, but who would be the most appropriate minister in terms of which department focuses on this particular issue? Is there a children’s social service minister for example or is that a sub of another department?

Good question.

Someone has to do it , for the justice system to work and try to ensure innocent people don't get railroaded or convicted. Obviously that means someone has to defend awful criminals too , even when they are caught red handed.

True, but it’s still beyond comprehension to me how someone is able to stand up there and defend these monsters. I suppose the money helps.

Perhaps they just don’t give a shit about their clients and put the bare minimum amount of effort into “getting them off” - it’s just lip service in other words. I bet they don’t give a damn when they lose a case like this. That’s the only way I think I could live with myself.

@gordongrumpy

And as an adoptive parent:

I think I read on here - and I believe it - that most of this kind of abuse comes from a situation where children live with a parent who isn't their biological parent.

Offensive bullshit.

Yep. The most publicised cases involving fatal injuries seem to involve a non-related person (usually male partner) and this may be a risk factor

But to say most abuse comes from non biological parents is just nonsense. Most abuse is going to be from bio parents.

I'm from a culture where people don't divorce and it's common for kids to be beaten etc. It's not step parents doing that, it's married, religious people. Obviously not the same circumstances as this case, but any demographic is capable, bio or otherwise

@tothelakes

Please explain why you think social services should not receive criticism when things go wrong and children suffer.

It is their choice of occupation and if something goes wrong they should be accountable.

Children suffer when things go wrong.

@Itwontstopraining Thank you!

Done & done (although I’m not holding my breath that it will make a difference)

[quote User57327259]@tothelakes

Please explain why you think social services should not receive criticism when things go wrong and children suffer.

It is their choice of occupation and if something goes wrong they should be accountable.

Children suffer when things go wrong.[/quote]
Because sometimes it's like asking why a surgeon didn't save a patient when all you've given them is a needle and a steak knife.

SW's are also limited by rules,law and guidelines. They're not omnipotent. They don't just march into a house and remove a child on the spot. There are meetings and court dates and procedures in place that must be followed. Sometimes a judge will go against recommendations and order for the child to be returned. They don't have xray vision or read minds so unless automatically obvious that abuse and neglect are taking place, an investigation is required. Investigations take time. That's why repeated reports and from different sources are so crucial.

@Doodlebug71

Thank you for sharing that, I'm astonished as I have recurring dreams (nightmares?!) where I'm trying to call for help on a phone and I can't get it to work. I thought I was the only one.

Also just to note, underfunding is of course an issue in public services, but when the Victoria C case occured the social services involved had underspent their budget by something like 10 million and we're more focused on putting funds into education. If people valued children and childhoods as much as I think they should, they'd find the money. Because it would be unconscionable not to.

I think it's been theorised that for every pound the government spent on childcare they would likely get three back. Even from a cold, hard, money-driven point of view let alone a moral one the 'return' on protecting children would be huge.

[quote User57327259]@tothelakes

Please explain why you think social services should not receive criticism when things go wrong and children suffer.

It is their choice of occupation and if something goes wrong they should be accountable.

Children suffer when things go wrong.[/quote]
I didn't say that, please don't imply that I think social services are above criticism.

There is a very negative view of social services that is often not based on fact or reality. I'm simply stating that this is not helpful and actually hinders their work in some cases.

[quote TonkaTrucker]@Doodlebug71

Thank you for sharing that, I'm astonished as I have recurring dreams (nightmares?!) where I'm trying to call for help on a phone and I can't get it to work. I thought I was the only one.

Also just to note, underfunding is of course an issue in public services, but when the Victoria C case occured the social services involved had underspent their budget by something like 10 million and we're more focused on putting funds into education. If people valued children and childhoods as much as I think they should, they'd find the money. Because it would be unconscionable not to.

I think it's been theorised that for every pound the government spent on childcare they would likely get three back. Even from a cold, hard, money-driven point of view let alone a moral one the 'return' on protecting children would be huge.[/quote]
I get them too and they're horrible. I either suddenly can't speak for no reason, or I'm unable to dial, the phone is broken,something isn't working etc. And I just endlessly keep trying and nothing ever works . I'm normally more exhausted when I wake up than when I went to bed after those dreams and it takes me ages to feel safe/back to reality.

I agree. And I don’t believe it would be any better under a Labour government either - just look at Baby P. I despair, I really do.

Totally agree that Labour wouldn't be any better. I also despair. It's horrifying to live in a world where babies being tortured and murdered is almost common place 💔

I still have sleepless nights over the Gabriel Fernandez case. I think I always convinced myself although it still horrible when they are killed it’s due to the parent snapping, not taking any joy from hurting them.

Some parents do enjoy hurting their child, or humiliating them, or setting them up to fail

@Confiscatedpopit Labour did at least have sure start centres, but caring for vulnerable children is not a priority. Which says a lot about us as a society.

And privatising some organisations can make things worse.

Private prisons get money for having prisoners, they make more money if someone reoffends so there is no incentive to implement anything that rehabilitates.

I'm sure the same is happening with private children's homes.

My experiences of social services has never been good. Even when where they have gone wrong is explained by senior doctors they can not accept that they got things wrong.
Children have suffered for years despite records showing injuries etc but still social services can not see it. There was corroborating evidence from what is assumed to be a reliable source.
Children suffer

I'm just praying that they get the worst possible sentence.

Shocked by more harrowing stories in the press today - this is happening everywhere, kids lives are so cheap:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-58072098

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-58102792

I know the first link there is to an account of different kinds of death but to me its all in the mix and all sickening.

@DishingOutDone

I wish I never knew about the second link you provided. It's haunted me ever since.

"Gosport baby death: Mother and ex-partner jail terms 'not unduly lenient' - BBC News" www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-46750678.amp

41 fractures in this child's life of three weeks, and their sentence is not 'unduly lenient'. Beggars belief. Wish I didn't know about these cases but also feel I need to be aware, bear witness and hopefully use the knowledge to help prevent if I see it.

This poor baby too.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-58102792

@TonkaTrucker

"Gosport baby death: Mother and ex-partner jail terms 'not unduly lenient' - BBC News" www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-46750678.amp

41 fractures in this child's life of three weeks, and their sentence is not 'unduly lenient'. Beggars belief. Wish I didn't know about these cases but also feel I need to be aware, bear witness and hopefully use the knowledge to help prevent if I see it.

That is sickening

It’s no wonder people think they can get away with it. They literally do!

@TonkaTrucker that is horrific. 10 years - is that all that little boy's life is worth?! Taking a child's life should mean life in prison IMO - and by life, I mean locked up and never released, no excuses.

@DanteThunderstone so so sad And nine years - what on earth? Another ridiculously lenient sentence.

@DanteThunderstone. Excellent sentence.
However and I could be very very wrong here and I feel heartily sorry for them but I’m sure a certain middle class professional white couple and their friends would have got exactly the same sentence had they been working class and black.

@lllllllllll

Defence barristers argued some injuries to the 3ft 3ins child, including bruising, were from 'rough and tumble play'.

However, pathologists examining her body in a post-mortem counted a harrowing total of 68 'injuries', ranging from dark bruising and blue bruises, to red marks and abrasions.

Dear god - how could they even attempt that as a line of defence? Pathetic. What a way to earn a living.

Everyone is entitled to a full defence, even if you don't like them.

You're showing a huge lack of understanding of how the justice system works. Defence barristers are there to test the prosecution and ensure that the charges brought are correct in law. They are not there to get their client off the hook no matter what.