It is right that concern be shown for the well being of children, as it is evident that all manner of abuse is still perpetrated against them. I use the word still, for it is now as ever was so.

When I was a child at boarding schools, few escaped the sanction of cane or strap delivered on the slightest pretext. Being then more naïve, such punishment was accepted at face value. With benefit of hindsight one recognises that corporal punishment was often as not, no more than the exercise of its perpetrator’s libido.

One has no wish to be invidious but not too long ago, there were Head Masters of reputable Public Schools, who might better have been in Prison than at High Table.

Even now one reads Press reports of Court Cases, where some plaintiff equates alleged abuse with a need for monetary recompense; and too one hears tell of Institutions running short of the ‘where with all’ to financially compensate claimants, should Court judgement go against them.

Some query why, if such allegations are justified, it is that nothing was said at the time, be it five, ten, fifteen or sixty years ago? Is anyone’s life ever that simple? More often than not the Physicality of abuse is less hurtful, than the residual psychological harm it may occasion.

Things were different then. Nowadays the merest allegation of an offence results in the relevant person suspension, be he or she guilty or not. Ours is a complaining society, which generally is unaware that there are no rights without responsibilities.

MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR US TO EMULATE
SOUTH AFRICA’S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION.

Thereby deal with allegations of historic abuse, and thereafter call an Amnesty, for I suspect that abuse was far more widespread than any of us would credit. Would it not be better to ‘clear the air’ for only then can things move on?

My heading questions whether ‘Society’ is distrustful or maybe not trustful enough? Whose word is acceptable when it comes to vetting Child Carers? Its fine enough to consult CRB Data bases, but doing so is a fruitless exercise so far as checking out offenders who have never yet been ‘Caught’. What of other References, how many are the worth the paper each is written upon, can any be taken at face value in these days of Political Correctness, furthermore what knows its recipient of the personal circumstance of the Provisor?

In recent weeks one read of difficulties arising under new guide lines concerning ‘Exchange Visits, the Accommodation of a youthful Hockey Team, School Runs, Sleep-Overs, Birthday Parties and School Outings’ you name it, for if its not one thing its another.

Maybe we would better do as the Americans do. There each and every sort of an Offender or Defaulter is listed on a data base open to Public Scrutiny. Given access to such facts, any concerned person can assess third party risks for him or her self.

Countrywide the Social Services being understaffed are overburdened. However well intentioned its workers are, the system they have to operate seems but an obstacle in the path of the good neighbourliness of yester year. Maybe that old Waughism * ‘To know all is to understand all’ might serve as a better deterrent to crime, than any number of Case Conferences.

DARE ONE SUGGEST THEREFORE THAT THE ANONIMITY OF UNDER AGE OFFENDERS APPEARING BEFORE THE COURTS BE ABANDONED, FOR IT IS THAT, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE WHICH FOSTERS RECIDIVISM.

An informed Public would be no less compassionate than overworked Social Workers. * Brideshead ?
Monday, 2 November 2009.