GOVERNMENT
SMACKING BAN CLAIMS 'DISINGENUOUS' SAY CHILDREN'S CAMPAIGNERS
The Government's claim that a ban on smacking children would be an unacceptable
intrusion into family life are 'disingenuous and misleading' say children's
rights group, Action on Rights for Children (ARCH).
At the same time as the 'reasonable chastisement' amendments to the Children
Bill are debated, Peers will also be debating Government plans to monitor every
family in England and Wales via a database system.
The Children Bill contains proposals to open a
central file on every child, and permit professionals to share confidential
information about families without their knowledge or consent whenever they have
a 'concern' about a child or parent. These 'concerns' can include information
about medical problems or educational achievement - not just worries that a
child is being abused. Professionals would then decide what intervention the
family needs.
'We do not understand how the Government can say that it does not want to
intrude into family life, when it is seeking to establish a comprehensive family
surveillance system,' says Terri Dowty, Policy Director of ARCH. 'Under cover of
the publicity surrounding the smacking debate, a real nanny state will be
created - with parents reduced to the role of nannies.'
ARCH dismisses Government claims that the database idea came from Lord Laming's
Inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie. The proposals were contained in a
Government Performance and Innovation Unit report published before the Laming
Inquiry even opened. Under pressure from Peers during Committee Stage of the
Children Bill, the Government admitted that Lord Laming was not the source of
the idea.
'A children's database has more to do with an infatuation with information
technology than with child protection. Rather than wasting millions on watching
families and talking about them behind their backs, we should be spending the
money on protecting children who are in danger.'
ENDS
CONTACT: Terri Dowty
Archrights@aol.com
ARCH Office Tel: 020 8558 9317
OR CONTACT THE FOLLOWING ARCH MEMBERS DIRECT:
Alison Preuss: 0772 962 3532
Mel Greenyer: 0783 713 4878 (Devon & Cornwall)
Sally Lever: 0870 262 6319 (Bath & Somerset)
Ian Dowty: 0797 627 4183
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1) ARCH - Action on Rights for Children -is an Internet-based UK-wide network of
families committed to the rights of children. Through its network, ARCH
disseminates information to families, and gathers opinions on issues affecting
children in order to represent them to policy-makers at both local and national
level. For more information see: www.arch-ed.org
2) The Children Bill is online at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200304/ldbills/035/2004035.htm
3) The Performance & Innovation Unit Report 'Privacy & Data-Sharing: the way
forward' published April 2002 is at:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/su/privacy/11.htm
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