Obviously what all these
"hidden" children need is the local authority to save them... Or not.
"Three young children trapped in a squalid 'hell hole' home were reported to the council by worried neighbours two years before the authorities finally rescued them, it was revealed today.
"The children, aged one, three and four, were kept in darkness inside the filthy house and never allowed out by their cruel parents. Neighbours, concerned that the youngsters were hardly ever seen or heard, repeatedly spoke to housing officials about them and have accused social services of negligence.
"The 26-year-old father and 25-year-old mother - who was university-educated and comes from a respectable middle-class background - were jailed for three years at York Crown Court after admitting cruelty charges this week."
What might happen next, do we think?
Option 1. Local authority admits that:
- it is almost impossible for a child to be "hidden" from society, and repeated references to this concept (most often used by politicans, quangos and fake charities) merely pander to the risk-averse, disproprotionate priorities of unthinking people
- relying on strong, connected and interested communities to raise justified concerns about the welfare of children can work effectively and is a good thing
- they may, just possibly, have failed to act appropriately in this instance
OR:
2. Local authority claims that:
- they have followed procedures, acted reasonably and are not at fault
- they don't currently have sufficient powers to access people's homes and children where necessary
- it would be better all round if every family was inspected, at least once a year, just in case
- Anyone who is in their twenties, university-educated, and from a respectable middle-class background will be classed as "higher risk", just in case
We'll just have to await the outcome of York City Council's internal review, won't we?
H/T Ambush Predator
