Cleveland child abuse scandal: Difference between revisions
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Later, the test being used to establish child abuse was contested by the area police surgeon and cooperation between the social workers, police and hospital doctors involved in diagnosis began to disintegrate.<ref name=Webmag/> In addition, there was public concern regarding the practices being used by the local social service agency, such as the removal of children from their homes in the middle of the night.<ref name=Webmag/> In May 1987, parents marched from the hospital where their children were being held to the local newspaper. The resulting media coverage caused the social service agency's practices to receive public scrutiny and criticism.<ref name=Webmag/> In response, the Butler-Sloss report was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Social Services in July 1987 and published in 1988.<ref name="Gazette"/> The report was led by [[Elizabeth Butler-Sloss]] and it concluded that most of the diagnoses were incorrect.<ref name="Gazette">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/20-years-cleveland-child-sex-3729871 |title=20 years on from the Cleveland Child Sex Abuse Scandal |newspaper=GazetteLive |date=8 July 2008}}</ref> As a result, 94 of the 121 children were returned to their homes.<ref name="Gazette"/><ref>Staff writer, [http://www.childrenwebmag.com/articles/key-child-care-texts/the-cleveland-reportby-judge-elizabeth-butler-sloss The Cleveland Report] digest by Robert Shaw, Children Webmag 2011, accessed July 17, 2014</ref> |
Later, the test being used to establish child abuse was contested by the area police surgeon and cooperation between the social workers, police and hospital doctors involved in diagnosis began to disintegrate.<ref name=Webmag/> In addition, there was public concern regarding the practices being used by the local social service agency, such as the removal of children from their homes in the middle of the night.<ref name=Webmag/> In May 1987, parents marched from the hospital where their children were being held to the local newspaper. The resulting media coverage caused the social service agency's practices to receive public scrutiny and criticism.<ref name=Webmag/> In response, the Butler-Sloss report was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Social Services in July 1987 and published in 1988.<ref name="Gazette"/> The report was led by [[Elizabeth Butler-Sloss]] and it concluded that most of the diagnoses were incorrect.<ref name="Gazette">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/20-years-cleveland-child-sex-3729871 |title=20 years on from the Cleveland Child Sex Abuse Scandal |newspaper=GazetteLive |date=8 July 2008}}</ref> As a result, 94 of the 121 children were returned to their homes.<ref name="Gazette"/><ref>Staff writer, [http://www.childrenwebmag.com/articles/key-child-care-texts/the-cleveland-reportby-judge-elizabeth-butler-sloss The Cleveland Report] digest by Robert Shaw, Children Webmag 2011, accessed July 17, 2014</ref> |
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On 14 October 1991, the Children Act was implemented in full as a result of the Cleveland child abuse scandal<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pragnall|first1=Charles|title=Torn from their mothers' arms What are social workers for? Charles Pragnell considers some disturbing cases|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/torn-from-their-mothers-arms-what-are-social-workers-for-charles-pragnell-considers-some-disturbing-cases-1389422.html|accessdate=July 17, 2014|publisher=The Independent|date=December 13, 2014}}</ref> and other child related events that preceded it.<ref name=Webmag/> A TV documentary called ''The Death of Childhood'' was broadcast in 1997 and alleged that "independent experts under the guidance of the Department of Health later found that at least 70 per cent |
On 14 October 1991, the Children Act was implemented in full as a result of the Cleveland child abuse scandal<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pragnall|first1=Charles|title=Torn from their mothers' arms What are social workers for? Charles Pragnell considers some disturbing cases|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/torn-from-their-mothers-arms-what-are-social-workers-for-charles-pragnell-considers-some-disturbing-cases-1389422.html|accessdate=July 17, 2014|publisher=The Independent|date=December 13, 2014}}</ref> and other child related events that preceded it.<ref name=Webmag/> A TV documentary called ''The Death of Childhood'' was broadcast in 1997 and alleged that "independent experts under the guidance of the Department of Health later found that at least 70 per cent of the diagnoses" were correct.<ref name="Indie 1997">{{cite news|last1=Streeter|first1=Michael|title=Child abuse scandal resurfaces|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/child-abuse-scandal-resurfaces-1263578.html|accessdate=July 17, 2014|publisher=The Independent|date=May 26, 1997}}</ref> According to the documentary, two years after the scandal a number of children were again referred to social services and determined to be at risk for child abuse.<ref name="Indie 1997"/> In February 2007, the Chief Medical Officer, who was the regional medical officer at the time of the scandal, admitted that "mistakes were made". <ref name="Daily Mail">{{cite news|last1=Staff Writer|title=The women who went through an ordeal beyond belief|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-438208/The-women-went-ordeal-belief.html|accessdate=July 21, 2014|publisher=Daily Mail|date=February 24, 2007}}</ref> A few days later, two of the children who had been the focus of the scandal asked the Middlesbrough police for an investigation of their 1987 experience.<ref name="Daily Mail"/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 09:01, 8 February 2015
The Cleveland child abuse scandal refers to a 1987 wave of suspected child sexual abuse cases in Cleveland, England.
Background
At the time of this event, the area referred to as Cleveland consisted of three towns: Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.[1] Since that time the Cleveland area has been broken into four local authorities with only one retaining, in part, the name of Cleveland.[1]
History
During the years prior to the Cleveland child abuse scandal, the levels of reported child abuse were consistent with other parts of the United Kingdom.[1] However, in 1987, during the period of February to July, many children living in Cleveland were removed from their homes by social service agencies and diagnosed as sexually abused.[2] The 121 diagnoses were made by two paediatricians at a Middlesbrough hospital, using a "controversial diagnostic practice" called reflex anal dilation.[2] When there were not enough foster homes in which to place the allegedly abused children, social services began to house the children in a ward at the local hospital.[1]
Later, the test being used to establish child abuse was contested by the area police surgeon and cooperation between the social workers, police and hospital doctors involved in diagnosis began to disintegrate.[1] In addition, there was public concern regarding the practices being used by the local social service agency, such as the removal of children from their homes in the middle of the night.[1] In May 1987, parents marched from the hospital where their children were being held to the local newspaper. The resulting media coverage caused the social service agency's practices to receive public scrutiny and criticism.[1] In response, the Butler-Sloss report was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Social Services in July 1987 and published in 1988.[2] The report was led by Elizabeth Butler-Sloss and it concluded that most of the diagnoses were incorrect.[2] As a result, 94 of the 121 children were returned to their homes.[2][3]
On 14 October 1991, the Children Act was implemented in full as a result of the Cleveland child abuse scandal[4] and other child related events that preceded it.[1] A TV documentary called The Death of Childhood was broadcast in 1997 and alleged that "independent experts under the guidance of the Department of Health later found that at least 70 per cent of the diagnoses" were correct.[5] According to the documentary, two years after the scandal a number of children were again referred to social services and determined to be at risk for child abuse.[5] In February 2007, the Chief Medical Officer, who was the regional medical officer at the time of the scandal, admitted that "mistakes were made". [6] A few days later, two of the children who had been the focus of the scandal asked the Middlesbrough police for an investigation of their 1987 experience.[6]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h Charles, Pragnell (unkown). "The Cleveland Sexual Abuse Scandal". Children Webmag. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e "20 years on from the Cleveland Child Sex Abuse Scandal". GazetteLive. 8 July 2008.
- ^ Staff writer, The Cleveland Report digest by Robert Shaw, Children Webmag 2011, accessed July 17, 2014
- ^ Pragnall, Charles (December 13, 2014). "Torn from their mothers' arms What are social workers for? Charles Pragnell considers some disturbing cases". The Independent. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ a b Streeter, Michael (May 26, 1997). "Child abuse scandal resurfaces". The Independent. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ a b Staff Writer (February 24, 2007). "The women who went through an ordeal beyond belief". Daily Mail. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
Bibliography
- Bell, Stuart (1988). When Salem Came to the Boro, The True Story of the Cleveland Child Abuse Crisis