How disappointing to see the extent to which BBC Wales news has swallowed the official “press pack” on the findings of a Serious Case Review into how four young children suffered horrific abuse but whose cries for help went ignored. It seems that another Friday afternoon press release, issued by local government sources just as the media are going to sleep for the weekend, has done the job of deflecting serious press scrutiny yet again.
Among the waffle which implies that collective culpability and a suitable show of contrition somehow absolves those responsible for allowing the unacceptable to happen, there is a brief mention of how it took South Wales Police a full year to arrest the abuser after allegations of multiple rapes of four children were first made.
The 49 page Serious Case Review report makes for harrowing reading. More to the point, and for all the references in official press summaries to “inter-agency failings”, there is no mistaking that David Spicer, the report’s author, views the abysmal level of police involvement as a major concern. He even goes as far as to suggest that South Wales Police Authority look to see whether the force is able to fulfil its legal duty "in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children".
The reason for this comment are linked to his earlier findings that:
· Officers were not investigating child abuse in the same manner as they would any other serious allegation of crime.
· There was inconsistency in the accuracy of records and varying practices for dating entries.
· Officers did not always identify criminal offences and suspects when these came to light during child protection procedures.
· There were unacceptable delays in interviewing victims.
· Victim interviews were not conducted in accordance with statutory guidance.
· There were delays in arresting and interviewing suspects.
· Arrests were arranged by telephone.
· Cases were resolved in informal ways.
· Decisions were made to treat suspects as victims without consultation with Crown Prosecution Service.
· There was failure to take proactive steps in response to information.
· Poor co-ordination with the Crown Prosecution Service gave rise to inadequate inquiries, lost evidence and unnecessary discontinued prosecutions
Whilst it is also true that a combination of factors, including demographics, contributed to the circumstances that allowed vulnerable children to go unprotected for so long, the degree of criticism levelled at the police in the case review is considered by health & social care practitioners to be unprecedented. What we find puzzling is why the Safeguarding Board did not highlight this particular fact.
Partnership working in one thing; but consciously blurring accountabilities in order to protect your partners, and doing so at the expense of the vulnerable in our communities, is quite another.
Update: ‘Social services let down four children abused by paedophile’, says the Western Mail headline. Are they reading the same report?
1 Comments:
In my opinion, Safeguarding Boards should be statutorily prohibited from publishing a Serious Case Review report on a Friday afternoon. As you correctly infer, it is no more than a cynical exercise in damage limitation.
The media are under pressure to meet early evening deadlines and will accept the “key facts” outlined in the accompanying press release. The worst of it will be overtaken by other news events by the time that journalists return to work on Monday morning.
What disturbs me is the extent to which the bodies who chose the date & time may have taken their cue from the Assembly government on how to avoid serious scrutiny. Ministers should lead by example and demand the same standards of probity from agencies that serve the public.
One thing missing from the police comment is any indication as to whether the investigating officers have been disciplined or even interviewed. I am sure this will be a relevant piece of information when the children involved begin proceedings against the force for their negligence.
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