Star comment: Protecting children is up to us all
The cowardly abuse that damaged the lives of vulnerable youngsters in Telford has taught us many lessons.
Foremost among them is that it must never happen again.
Greater rigour and diligence must be applied to safeguard other children who might otherwise be at risk in the months and years ahead.
It is clear that agencies are learning from the errors. Telford & Wrekin Council is reaching out to hoteliers, taxi drivers and others who might witness acts of grooming and abuse.
They want them to act as an undercover army of watchdogs who keep an eye out on the depraved and disgusting. They want them to report any concerns without fear, however insubstantial they might seem. For safeguarding the wellbeing of just one single child is worth all of the difficulties that might be encountered.
Attitudes have changed to issues of grooming by groups of men. Labour’s internal wrangling over issues of race have been called out and the police and social services have been urged to up their game and predatory men have been warned to watch out. There is no place for them to hide.
Social workers have put in place sensible steps to help children because too many are finding themselves in unsavoury and unpleasant situations. They have been at risk not just because evil men wish to do them harm, but also because the system has not been watertight.
Telford & Wrekin Council deserves praise for the measures it has put in place and authorities in Shropshire and Mid-Wales might wish to learn from such best practice.
It is enormously important that people who come into contact with young children do not wish them harm. That is not to hope for a nanny state, where normal interactions become impossible because of PC behaviour. It is simply to insist upon rigour and transparency so that adults can safely interact with children, while youngsters know they will not come to harm.
The messages from agencies are simple: If you suspect anything, report it.
In today’s digital age, it is not just up to the police and social services to keep our communities safe. We all have a social responsibility to look out for the young and make sure we are protecting them.
