| The Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL) has
criticised the government’s report (31 Oct) into abuse in children’s
homes, saying it brands survivors of abuse as liars and will stop
some from reporting crimes in the future.
ACAL says the House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry into alleged
false allegations of child abuse has reached incorrect conclusions
because of the type of evidence it called.
It says the inquiry failed to talk to the survivors of abuse,
instead relying on pleas of innocence from those who had been prosecuted
and their families.
Reacting to the government report, it says:
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Whilst ACAL deplores any miscarriages of justice and encourages
any changes in the law, it must not discriminate unfairly against
survivors of abuse from the care system.
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ACAL is concerned that people accused of abuse could be granted
anonymity in the future; it says this is unfair as it amounts
to giving privileges to the accused. If there is to be any change
to the law it should apply at the very least to all types of
sexual offence, and not discriminate wrongfully against the
survivors of abuse in children’s homes
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The police “trawling” system (so called) has been essential
to uncover widespread child abuse in our care system, and has
been satisfactorily regulated since its inception. Government
interference is not necessary.
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Any suggestion that survivors are motivated by greed is an
insult to their testimony and is likely to discourage openness
in an area that desperately needs to encourage disclosure.
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The Criminal Injuries Compensation system clearly does not
provide a proper system of just rewards for the survivor of
sex crimes, and urgently needs reform.
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Compensation for the survivors paid by those responsible is
essential to put right the wrongs committed by the establishment
in a care system.
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The Committee selected too much witness evidence from the
false allegations lobby and failed to call any evidence from
survivors of abuse.
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The Committee have accepted evidence from many convicted abusers
who say they were falsely accused and impugned the credibility
of survivors who allege abuse in the same way that the owners
of children’s homes behaved many years ago when children made
complaints and were ignored.
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The Committee’s suggestion that substitution of the Civil
Court compensation System with the Criminal Injuries Compensation
Authority offends Human Rights legislation
“We are very angry that the rights of the genuine abuse
victims have not been given enough attention by the committee. We
are concerned that this report will discourage survivors from coming
forward”, says Peter Garsden of Abney Garsden McDonald solicitors,
Vice-President of ACAL (Association of Child Abuse Lawyers) |
