Access to Care Records Campaign Group

14/10/2024

I have been contacted recently by two sets of authors both planning to do articles on False Memory Syndrome - to which I gladly contributed, and which inspired me to write about the subject. The important question for someone who deals with victims/survivors of abuse all the time is: What effect does a challenge to the truth of their evidence have upon them, and their feelings?

I have been contacted recently by two sets of authors both planning to do articles on False Memory Syndrome (intentional lack of inverted commas), for both a bo

27/09/2024

In this Article, I discuss the Harrods Al Fayed scandal, gleaned from news articles, and comment upon the legal hurdles all the Claimants will have to jump if they are to win in the Courts. I also discuss the proposed redress scheme, and how much easier it would be if just some of the recommendations of IICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse) were brought onto the statute book.
, Fayed, abuse inquiry

Introduction I must admit that I thought we had come to the end of all the celebrity abuse scandals until I realised that no one challenged the all powerful,

19/09/2024

Delighted to be supporting the Survivors Trust at their conference in sunny Shropshire

07/09/2024

I report upon a Legal Loophole in child abuse law whereby private tutors of children can practice without having a vetting check through the national service, even when they are facing trial for offences of child abuse, a loophole that needs filling by urgent legislation. Let us hope that a prime minister who rewrote policy on child abuse whilst head of CPS will do the right thing by victims of abuse as Prime Minister.

When I hear Angus Crawford of the BBC promoting an article, I always know that a valid child abuse story is going to eventuate. The fact that there is a loophol

12/08/2024

During a media and political clamour for Huw Edwards to pay back his salary when he had been charged with serious sexual offences, I examine the legal and moral case for him to do so. My conclusion as a lawyer is a legal rather than a moral one. Judges are only too aware that trial by media interferes with trial by the judicial system

When I am invited to give an interview to the media, it usually tells me that there is some relevance to child abuse, which often results in another blog. I hav

22/02/2024

Will the announcement that finally Mandatory Reporting will be brought in by a Tory Party which is approaching an election with polls not looking favourable for them work? I discuss the latest proposal and look at the history.

The campaign for the introduction of Mandatory Reporting is several years old, and has been brought in by a Tory Party which is approaching an election with pol

24/01/2024

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 situations where Local Authorities owe a duty of care to children in their care.

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 Exploi

03/12/2023

Inspired by Panorama's documentary about child abuse at Edinburgh Academy & Fettes College, and the amazing story of how the survivor's have campaigned and succeeded in getting justice, I discuss how the amazing story of cover-ups, and white washes is typical of similar cases I have dealt with in past, but in its own way, also 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 ac

30/09/2022

Action has been taken against SEVEN organisations who failed in their duty to respond to information access requests.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has taken action against seven organisations who have failed to respond to the public when asked for personal information held about them, known as a Subject Access Request (SAR).

Action has been taken against SEVEN organisations who failed in their duty to respond to information access requests. The Information Commissioner’s Office

22/09/2022

The Department for Education set up in July 2022 a National Implementation Board as part of the government’s response to the Care Review. At the time of writing this post, the current Prime Minister has not appointed a children’s minister but we assume this person will chair the Board.

The Department for Education set up in July 2022 a National Implementation Board as part of the government’s response to the Care Review. At the time of writi