Baby P's 'Stepfather' - can it get any worse?

[Ethel]

Another child on the Child Protection Register not protected. At least he's been caught.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-117629 1/BREAKING-NEWS-Baby-Ps-stepfather-guilty-rapi ng-year-old-girl.html

[Ethel]

It seems to be Baby P's sister that was raped. She gave evidence at 4 years old via videolink, the youngest victim to give evidence at the Old Bailey.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime /article6206013.ece

[paraffin]

No, Ethel, it could not get any worse than this!

And to think that, Sharon Shoesmith, the head of Haringey Social Services, who was of course sacked following the "Baby P" debacle by her department, and who also presided during this heinous episode, has the barefaced cheek to appeal against her dismissal. She would be better served retiring to a desert island and keeping an extremely low profile for the rest of her days.

[Ethel]

I am lost for words. Sickened

[Rollo]

These poor children.

Evil parent/stepparent, and social services who, although they were on the at risk register, had either no idea how to protect them, or just would not protect them for whatever reason.

They stood no chance.

[legend.isgod]

Sadly i think this wont be the last such case.Lessons have been learnt but not acted on as afar back as Victoria climbie.As society seems to be on a meltdown these cruel and evil events appear to be more common and the social workers seem to have trouble acting on cases.Whether overwork or lack of experience or fear of reprisal its very worrying.

[jno]

well, demonising them for failure won't attract more people to the job. Please remember social services are not the villain in these cases.

[Rollo]

Social services may not be the villains, but if they don't do their job properly they are culpable.

[Everhelpful]

Why don't they name him? And Castrate him!!!!

[jno]

I have on occasion not done my job properly, as have other people. Fortunately I never had the tabloids on my case. You may well say that if social workers can't do the job they should quit, but where are you going to find replacements?

[Ethel]

Everhelpful - they won't name him because doing so would identify the 4 year old girl who he raped.

[Rollo]

You appear to be saying that if Social Services don't do their job, and as a result children are brutalised, or even killed, then it's just one of those things that happen because everybody makes mistakes.

Maybe I am misunderstanding?

[Ethel]

I don't blame the social workers at all.
I don't blame the police when a 'joyrider' gets killed during a police chase.

Let's keep blame to the perpetrators - they and they alone have carried out these crimes.

By all means investigate 'the powers that be' for negligence but don't let that detract from the evil people who committed the crimes.

[Everhelpful]

Could still castrate him though,Ethel!! OH,forgot he'll have human rights.!!!!

[jno]

I'm just saying people are fallible, Rollo. If the job specifications require perfection, the job will be unfilled forever, and how will that help anyone? I do think we need to accept that things go wrong, in any field. Are you sure you're not asking too much of social workers?

[Ethel]

Castration doesn't guarantee he wouldn't do it again - it all depends on his motivation for rape.

If he does it as a power trip then he'd use an implement.

[legend.isgod]

.As i said Whether overwork or lack of experience or fear of reprisal its very worrying.


If they are overworked then the money must be found to employ more.
If its a case of raising council tax for the local authorities then so be it.

[Rollo]

In these cases it seems that Social Services made not just one mistake, but mistake after mistake after mistake over a long period.

There is a pattern

[jno]

I agree, Rollo, but what exactly is the solution? I suspect as legend suggests it will involve more money and more staff - but do the people who are angry at what has happened necessarily want to pay more tax to stop it happening again?

[legend.isgod]

Is it overwork rollo?

Bus and lorry drivers by law can only work so many hours and drive a vehicle .

How many children and families can 1 social worker safely observe without having to juggle them and posssibly not have enough time to observe?

And i do wonder how some of these young female social workers are suppose dto deal with these boyfriend/step dad characters we read about.

Being human id imagine they too can feel fear and intimidation as much as the mothers and children.

[DEN53]

'Can it get any worse' - Yes, if he is let out of jail early - lets hope life means life and not 15 years or less.

I would string the bas$$rd up from the highest tree.

What on earth goes through their brain when they are commiting these evil deeds - do they see these children as just objects and not little human beings.