Is The Introduction of Mandatory Reporting Worthwhile or Just Some Election Showboating?

The campaign for the introduction of Mandatory Reporting (failure to report child abuse by those in the child care area either witnessed or reasonably suspected should be a criminal offence) is several years old, and has been brought in by a Tory Party which is approaching an election with polls not looking favourable for them.
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Does the law need to make Local Authorities more liable in view of the Rochdale Child Sexual Exploitation disaster?

After I was invited by Talk TV to give my views upon the recent report commissioned by Andy Burman, Mayor of Manchester into the handling of Child Sexual Exploitation (“CSE”) in Rochdale, I started to give the topic some thought. It occurs to me that civil law needs to change so as to broaden the
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“The Orpheus Project” by Dr. Valerie Sinason – a review

When I was contacted by the publishers of a new novel by the highly regarded psychotherapist Valerie Sinason, I was immensely intrigued by her obvious transition from highly accredited professional to novel writer. I have known of her reputation for many years in the field of ritualistic abuse and dissociation, which in itself is controversial
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Are children safe online and what should parents do to protect them?

Paedophiles will always look for ways to meet and abuse children. Years ago they would look for employment as teachers, care workers, sports coaches etc. As fast as routes to children are barricaded by safe guarding, sex offenders have to be more inventive. Now the internet is the obvious easier route which is relatively unpoliced,
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Is the Panorama programme about abuse at Scottish schools unique?

As I was thumbing through the TV Schedule last Thursday, to see if there was anything good on Freeview TV, instead of watching a film on catch up, I stumbled across the Panorama program about the appalling abuse committed at several schools by a man formally given the epithet “Edgar” by the Scottish Inquiry with
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The Post Office scandal v Child Abuse Group Actions – compare and contrast.

Having just spent some time listening on BBC Sounds to the excellent series of programmes on what has been called the biggest miscarriage of justice in British Legal History, namely the wrongful prosescution of hundreds of innocent postmasters with no previous convictions, and their struggle for justice, I was able to see many parallels with
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How “safe” is the Online Safety Act 2023

The new Act was given the Royal Assent on 26th October 2023, amidst much political trumpeting that it would make Britain a much safer online environment, particularly for parents and children. When an Act is politically charged, its aims lofty, and the penalties for breach very severe, the laudable aims are sometimes illusory, history confounding
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1 year anniversary and no legislation from the Home Office in response to IICSA Report into child abuse

When Teresa May set up the Public Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in 2014, we had a Prime Minister who regarded Child Sexual Abuse and the eradication thereof as her top priority in government. The inquiry took 8 years, cost hundreds of millions of pounds, and, it appears, achieved practically nothing. Hence, a number of
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Is trial by media of Russell Brand fair, and would he like to be anonymous?

At the moment, Russell Brand is all over the news because of the allegations made against him in the Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches Program. Brand denies the allegations and thanks his supporters for reinforcing his denials. Many journalists, such as Piers Morgan and Jim Davidson, the comedian, have decried the disgraceful “trial by
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BBC Scotland – Celtic FC announce settlement for victims

In a similar way to England’s Football Clubs, Scotland has its own abuse problem at Celtic FC, which has recently been reported to have agreed to settle claims made against it. I was asked by BBC Scotland to provide my expert opinion on their News Channel on behalf of ACAL (Association of Child Abuse Lawyers).
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