Let’s get this straight. Two months after film evidence of serious physical and emotional abuse of vulnerable children,and less than a fortnight since the Guardian published a dossier of further allegations, children are being sent again to G4S-dash Medway secure training centre (Report, and 18 March). The reason? Apparently none of the agencies with statutory duties to protect children,and monitor their care, believe raised safeguarding concerns in recent weeks. But these are the very same agencies that had no idea, or we are told,that children were being physically and verbally assaulted, or that officers were using restraint as a cover for abuse.
A report by six experienced inspectors from Ofsted and the prisons inspectorate, and published on 26 January,said a small number of children had reported mistreatment, which was “consistent” with the BBC evidence, and the inspectorates “believe meaningful concerns approximately the centre”. Are we meant to believe that all of the allegations believe been dealt with in the intervening weeks?Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com