Criticism of the Children's Index

Eileen Fairweather, the journalist who helped expose the Islington child abuse scandal, writes in the Mail on Sunday about the UK Government’s Children’s Index (a register of the names and full details of all children in the UK, including addresses, parents/guardians etc., with access granted to a wide range of civil servants and members of the public):

I have investigated child abuse scandals for nearly 20 years and interviewed many paedophiles.
Most, I am certain, will feel that, with the Index, all their birthdays have come at once. It will help them identify vulnerable children, plant malicious lies to discredit those who might speak up and discover – and possibly intimidate – those already doing so.
Paranoid? Sadly not. I have seen children’s files manipulated in this way time and again – particularly in Islington, the London borough whose 12 children’s homes were infiltrated by child sex-ring procurers while Margaret Hodge was council leader.
How ironic the Index is her legacy, shepherded in while she was Children’s Minister.
Does she still not understand how paedophiles operate? Many choose work with children, targeting councils, schools, hospitals and the police.

(Thanks to No2ID for the tip)

pax et bonum

Article posted at 1:06pm on 04 September 2006
Category: Politics, General