The Independent Safeguarding Authority ‘Puts Children at Risk’
Childline founder Esther Rantzen has attacked the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), saying it was damaging to the national psyche, which puts children at risk. This isn’t an argument from an activist, a blogger or an opposition politician – this is from a woman whose credentials in child protection are beyond reproach.
“Most abused children suffer at home, at the hands of people very close to them; the risk provided by strangers is minimal.”
And she’s right – blanketing the entire population with the suspicion that they might be paedophiles is damaging the national psyche, and is already putting children at risk. Wes Cuell, director of services for children and young people for the NSPCC, added:
“The warning signs are now out there that this scheme will stop people doing things that are perfectly safe and normal, things that they shouldn’t be prevented from doing.
“When you get this degree of public outcry there is generally a good reason for it. I think we are getting a bit too close to crossing the line about what is acceptable in the court of public opinion. We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
Mr Cuell said that while it was important to strengthen rules to protect children from potential sex offenders, over zealous interpretation of such rules could threaten the civil liberties of thousands.
When leading child protection charities themselves start calling for an end to this madness of trying to use a bureaucracy to obliterate all risk for children and ‘vulnerable adults’, it suggests something really needs to be done. Interestingly Iain Dale has discovered that the likely next Home Secretary Chris Grayling is already reviewing the possibility of abolishing the ISA. How sickening a legacy it would be for Alan Johnson, Jack Straw and Gordon Brown – all progressive politicians once – to leave behind next summer. We shouldn’t have to wait for the Tories – the ISA must be abolished now – there is no time to waste.
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This is marvellous news! When stalwarts of the child protection industry speak out against the disproportionate nature of this (the latest in a long line of pointless) bureaucracy, alarm bells should be ringing very loudly in the ears of those who are responsible for its design and implementation. (Those who have read my comments on other posts will be very aware of my stand-point, and the reasons for it)
Unfortunately, none of those who have voiced concerns in the national media regarding the intentions of the ISA have done so from the enlightened perspective of being on the ‘rough end’ of the ISA’s operational objectives. Therefore they are necessarily, pitifully unaware of the real impact and the real consequences of the ISA’s operation.
So, my jubilation at the outing of some of the flaws in the system is tempered by the fact that the propaganda touted by ISA supporters may well quell the rising tide of opposition – unless some serious work is undertaken to (very blatantly) highlight the problems with the ISA, through high-profile and national media outlets.
The kind of information that people need to hear is not how the ISA will or will not allow paedophiles to evade capture, or how it will allow all-and-sundry to pass the buck next time an horrific child murder takes place, or how it is an insult to people’s sensibilities if they have to pay for the privilege of being ‘approved’ – it’s very, very simple for propaganda merchants to silence most of this type of argument.
To really effect change, and expose the underbelly of the ISA, the very seat of every right-thinking individual who believes in justice, proportionality and above all else, common sense needs to be disturbed enough to provoke action.
I think the way to do this is to show how the ISA is already destroying the lives of innocent people and how, regardless of the final decision passed by this quango, particularly in cases of ‘discretionary barring’ as a result of false accusations – that the personal consequences and damage to those falsely accused is already, irreversibly done.
The way to do this is to challenge the ISA on the basis of irrefutable fact. Someone, who knows exactly what the ISA is all about, and how it operates, needs to mount a very open and public challenge. Unfortunately – the people best placed to do this are those who the ISA are considering for ‘discretionary barring’ as a result of a referral from an employer (paid or voluntary being equal) – more often than not, as a result of a false allegation. Finding enough people (like me) who are being subjected to in-humane treatment at the hands of the ISA will be a very difficult job; and it will be even harder to convince this vulnerable group to speak out against the process – regardless of the potentially devastating consequences of being unfairly, unjustly and maybe even illegally branded a risk to children and vulnerable adults; when all those around you (and even those you are supposed to have placed at risk) know you’re not.
The scariest thing is this: the ISA is destroying countless lives (estimates suggest there are already in excess of 200 referrals to the ISA per month) and it’s not yet fully operationally active. How much worse will things get when it is properly ‘rolled-out’ – how many lives will be needlessly ruined? The only answer I can think of is “think of a number and double it”.
This is excellent news (and thanks for bringing it to our attention).
Even Chris Stevenson, The Detective Chief Superintendent who was in charge of the investigation which led to the arrest of Ian Huntley has written in The Times this morning “this paranoia won’t stop another Soham”. He goes on to say “I helped catch Ian Huntley and I know these stupid rules wouldn’t have prevented his crimes”
Of course they wouldn’t, we’ve all been saying this for months – Ad nauseam.
What an utter shambles and an embarrassment for this government who seem to lurch from one crisis to another. Abolishing the ISA is a priority, although I wont rest until all the people who put this scheme together are barred from interfering or meddling again. I actually find the people involved in the birth of this scheme even more despicable than the scheme itself because THEY are the ones who have put children at risk with all their poison and paranoia (amen to your headline).
Unfortunately, none of those who have voiced concerns in the national media regarding the intentions of the ISA have done so from the enlightened perspective of being on the ‘rough end’ of the ISA’s operational objectives. Therefore they are necessarily, pitifully unaware of the real impact and the real consequences of the ISA’s operation.
This is what is still bugging me too. The clamour against the ISA in the last few days has come from quite an odd angle. Esther Rantzen has maintained an impressive position on this, but it’s not one shared by most liberal commentators, who are fighting amongst themselves to ‘redraw the line’ on vetting and barring. I wonder if it’s the same liberals who insist the BNP shouldn’t be aloud to appear on ‘Question Time’ who are now not remotely concerned that the ISA is undermining the rule of law itself. It quite simply shouldn’t be able to exist – its entire purpose is malign.
I have spoken to a number of other people directly affected by the ISA, many of whom are taking legal representation to regain their employability, which was taken from them not by a court of law but by an administrator who didn’t even know them. I’ll do everything I can to get the real stories of what the ISA really does out there in coming days and weeks.
Further to James’ post above, the link to the times article: -
Soham police officer attacks Government’s new vetting scheme
[...] acknowledged that almost all abuse against children is perpetrated by someone close to the family. Esther Rantzen herself said: “Most abused children suffer at home, at the hands of people very close to them; the risk [...]