How safe are our children?

[grandadofsix]

I hear and read about Social Services failing abused children, about children being abused in Catholic institutions, about 1000's of children being sent overseas many to slave labour conditions and abuse. All of this happening in so-called civilised society!

As a grandfather you have more time to focus on things which could adversely affect the safety of children. The problem is that some subjects are "Inconvenient Truths".

Take speed limits - I have been banging away at our council and highways authority forever to lower speed limits to 20mph where chidren's (and pedestrian's) safety is at risk, and you wouldn't believe some of the exchanges. Cost is one big reason, there has to be a serious accident, another being "20mph might be considered overly constrictive and this would attract abuse by the vast majority of motorists who would consider the limit unreasonable". Cars before kids!

Dog danger - Can you believe that under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the 4 types of dogs banned can still be owned under direction by a court if owners can meet certain criteria! Also, we have the Dog Act of 1871. In 1871 children were being used by sweeps to climb inside chimneys. Shouldn't all dogs be made safe in public, one child attacked is one too many!

On a BBC Radio 4 programme the discussion was about banning adults smoking in a car with children passengers (which is against the law in some countries) and the person supporting this made the statement "our country is less progressive and less concerned about the health and safety of its children than many other countries"

More recently we have the subject of sex education on which we are way behind other EU countries. A new programme is being introduced into schools, but suddenly it's ok for religion to tamper with it. Surely this is tampering with our kids future wellbeing and safety!

I've been long winded I know, but this is my first time on the 'Mumsnet Talk' and had a lot on my chest!

Makes you think - "Inconvenient truths" - safety/abuse - Politicians - "Votes before Children"!!

atlantis, labour changed with Blair, the tories haven't changed their spots in 300 years and their high command isn't going to change now because it is controlled by the mega rich & powerful.
You confirm my opinion on who and what the tories represent - if they get in the greedy mega rich will be delighted as they will be able to carry on with their tax evading antics back here - no regulation.
This is why london became the financial centre of the world - or more like the financial casino.
The tories have put forward no policies except savage public cuts to reduce the deficit which will lead to even greater hardships for the people (oh and the inheritence tax one to help the rich which will reduce the public purse by about 2 billion pounds, and of course the promise to cut taxes)
The public has woken up, the tories battle plan is going pear shaped, the polls have started to go against them.
If this continues to the voting booths you could be looking for that overseas haven.

"the polls have started to go against them. "

Don't count on it, conservative voters were called upon if they were polled to say they would vote labour in the hopes it would spur Brown into calling an early election, I wonder if this is whats happening?

Personally speaking I would love brown to give us a budget and to see what this quarters figures are before the country goes to the polls, it should all make interesting viewing.