Abuse case shows inquiry is needed, says Senator
Monday 29th March 2010, 2:57PM BST.
Senator Alan Breckon
LAST week’s revelations that child protection services failed to stop a boy being abused and neglected for 12 years show that an official inquiry is needed into the management of Health and Social Services, says Senator Alan Breckon.
He has written to all States Members saying that a committee of inquiry should have been convened.
And he believes there is a now a need for open, focussed and reasoned debate about child protection not marred by personal animosity.
In September last year, the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel, which the Senator chairs, lodged a States proposition calling for just such an inquiry. The proposition was drafted by a sub panel of the main panel convened to look into the issue.
However, when the States debated the proposals, it was heavily defeated, with every minister and two former Health Ministers voting against it.
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When did the 12 years of abuse start? Also who specifically did the report criticise?
It is all very well to say, “child protection services failed to stop a boy being abused and neglected for 12 years”, but I am sure many people are keen to know who, or what agencies this report is talking about.
It could be a Paediatrician who failed to mention symptoms of abuse and neglect to the Children’s Service, or a teacher who didn’t pass on information to the police.
I am sure everyone would hope this wasn’t because of the inepitude of an individual or agency. Worse still let’s hope this wasn’t an intentional cover up.
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Well I think an apology is well overdue to Senator Stuart Syvret, its been common knowledge for a long time that he commisioned professor Thorburn to look into the failings of child protection in the island. When he expressed his concerns he was accused of undermining staff moral and Walker and Ogley engineered his dismissal with the full backing of the establishment.
Syd
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Isnt that the reason Stuart Syvret got the sack….? Didnt He highlight the fact that the Child Protection Services where not functioning properly…? Now we have his replacement at Health Mrs Pryke saying sorry to all the victims of abuse. I would also like to know who at Child Protection was failing and are they still employed by the States of Jersey, if so why…?
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In the Sunday phone-in on bbc radio jersey a member of the public phoned in and was critical of the fact that Senator Breckon’s original proposition had been defeated. The caller then asked Senator Perchard if, in the light of the damning JCPC report, he now regretted voting against this proposition.
If the response given by Senator Perchard is indicative of the attitude of those who voted “contre” then Senator Breckon stands zero chance of success, no matter how convincing his case.
A transcription of the recorded interview was made and this is exactly what the Senator said in his reply.
“Good morning … err … XXXX … umm … you really are a bit of a conspiracy theorist aren’t you really … umm … I hear you regularly on the radio and … umm … I am not quite sure what motivates you and … umm … I think you’ve probably got too much time on your hands and … umm … I think … err … like many people who are unemployed and on benefits you’d probably be better off getting a proper job and … umm … not having so much time on your hands to develop and … err … ”
Unsurprisingly Christie Tucker stopped the Senator from continuing at this point so we will never know what further insults were going to be levelled at a member of the public who dared to question the wisdom of those who had voted aginst Senator Breckon’s proposition.
Given the seriousness of this case, the response from a former minister for health takes the reputation of our decision makers to an all time low. I don’t hold out much hope for Senator Breckon’s chances.
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Or, to put it another way, Stuart Syvret was right all along and due an apology.
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We don’t need anymore enquiries! We seem to be getting one suggested every week so no wonder this Island is going bust. The problem is now solved and more so since they found the right people to run the show!
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