tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post7599216387603172189..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: A System That Failed Three ChildrenIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-68937938335515055702010-05-27T10:16:18.493+01:002010-05-27T10:16:18.493+01:00Given that the media were unable to print the full...Given that the media were unable to print the full details of the attack due to its explicit nature, I don't see how you can so casually write it off as 'doctors and nurses'.<br /><br />Maybe when your own child comes to you and says that two older boys 'done sex' with her at the same time, front and back (to put it as politely as possible), you will happily tell her 'oh never mind, they were just playing around' instead of calling police.Sty Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16953632136237655091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70360839958233885122010-05-26T11:45:18.002+01:002010-05-26T11:45:18.002+01:00The CPS obviously have more money than sense as an...The CPS obviously have more money than sense as an Old Bailey trial is hardly cheap...<br /><br />But then we are living in good times and the Government has loadsofmoney.<br /><br />Sounds like someone needs to have their budget cut.Madasafishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109237198481955714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-60463467385391729402010-05-25T21:50:20.449+01:002010-05-25T21:50:20.449+01:00I don't get why the trial wasn't stopped w...I don't get why the trial wasn't stopped when the little girl admitted she lied?Lady Finchleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695379463537122656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28806166636939005792010-05-25T19:54:18.865+01:002010-05-25T19:54:18.865+01:00If anyone should be in court it is ihe parents. Th...If anyone should be in court it is ihe parents. The Judge or Jury should simply decide if they are capiable parents. If they are not he children should be taken into care.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810788783886456639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74728361515237585072010-05-25T18:51:10.489+01:002010-05-25T18:51:10.489+01:00"The problem is that there has been a steady ..."The problem is that there has been a steady demonisation of children (started under Thatcher/Major and continued under New Labour) and intermittent "moral panics" leading to a crackdown on "youth offending".<br /><br />Yeah, I blame Thatcher.wildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14437167510102273197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86639995576202877582010-05-25T18:22:20.343+01:002010-05-25T18:22:20.343+01:00Straight to the court of Appeal for squashing beca...Straight to the court of Appeal for squashing because the verdict was unsafe. Get on your MPs all who read this to press for such a referral.Grand_Inquisitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12008480897159991738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-2145155772843930622010-05-25T18:06:23.864+01:002010-05-25T18:06:23.864+01:00Iain, when studying for my law degree, a group of ...Iain, when studying for my law degree, a group of us would go to crown court to understand the legal process. <br /><br />I was horrified a the age of some children giving evidence, particularly in cases of alleged sexual abuse. Can a five year old really give reliable evidence? <br /><br />I have little doubt that there are many innocent people in prison because of the political imperative of getting rape convictions up.<br /><br />The plight of these two little boys is very distressing. Being labeled as sex offenders for the rest of their lives for doing something that millions of children will have done through out the ages is incredible.<br /><br />The government has done many good things in the short time it has been in power. I would hope they will revisit this difficult area as a matter of urgency.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231441198415230361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-21502748207858069082010-05-25T17:52:03.507+01:002010-05-25T17:52:03.507+01:00Nick:"The difficulty is that whilst people su...Nick:<i>"The difficulty is that whilst people support a welfarist approach in this case, would they have supported the same in the Jamie Bulger case?"</i><br /><br />Firstly, I'm not sure a 'welfarist approach' is what is being suggested here by most people - in fact, most people appear to be saying that there was no need for the state ro get involved in something so trivial at all. <br /><br />Secondly, comparing this to the Bulger murder is comparing apples and oranges. No, I rake that back - it's comparing apples and washing machines...JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25307692312968094972010-05-25T17:47:46.782+01:002010-05-25T17:47:46.782+01:00Dungeekin:"This whole thing could've been...Dungeekin:<i>"This whole thing could've been handled with good parenting and perhaps a stern talking-to by the Duty Inspector."</i><br /><br />Two things it seems we are lacking these days...JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89607785706847858972010-05-25T17:43:06.379+01:002010-05-25T17:43:06.379+01:00Surely the little girl should have been checked by...Surely the little girl should have been checked by a Doctor before the matter was taken to Court. The charge of Rape would then have been dropped and the 2 boys spoken to by an Authorised person, This would have saved the children being dragged to Court and the expense of the trial.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4188048891451912692010-05-25T17:10:31.633+01:002010-05-25T17:10:31.633+01:00Indeed. The problem is that there has been a stead...Indeed. The problem is that there has been a steady demonisation of children (started under Thatcher/Major and continued under New Labour) and intermittent "moral panics" leading to a crackdown on "youth offending".<br /><br />In fact, we need a more welfarist approach like that taken in Scandinavia. We should start by restoring doli incapax (or raising the age of criminal responsibility to a fairer level).<br /><br />The difficulty is that whilst people support a welfarist approach in this case, would they have supported the same in the Jamie Bulger case?Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779806872062476146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80162244629328788262010-05-25T17:05:38.181+01:002010-05-25T17:05:38.181+01:00Ask Peter Tatchell what he thinks of sexuaulising ...Ask Peter Tatchell what he thinks of sexuaulising children<br /><br />http://www.petertatchell.net/age%20of%20consent/consent%20at%2014.htmOld Holbornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10164491045068093627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78910212496597637462010-05-25T16:59:08.093+01:002010-05-25T16:59:08.093+01:00I think this needs an immediate appeal. This is a ...I think this needs an immediate appeal. This is a miscarriage of justice<br /><br />Where's the DPP when you need him?Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04852867933348403214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-9282970330510989982010-05-25T16:56:32.390+01:002010-05-25T16:56:32.390+01:00I agree Iain about playing doctors & nurses st...I agree Iain about playing doctors & nurses stuff. This should never have gone to court. Once it had been I assume nobody wanted to go on record as saying it was nonsense in this politically correct era. Better to just let all the kids be traumatised - that is what the caring professions are for - that & getting to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds.<br /><br />So long as 52% of national spending is done by government we will have government employees looking for new ways to interfere with people's lives. From 1850 to 1914 it was about 6%.neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-32248534662825830492010-05-25T16:40:49.453+01:002010-05-25T16:40:49.453+01:00When this started I wasnt quite sure if I thought ...When this started I wasnt quite sure if I thought the trial was a good idea or not. As it went on I got more and more angry. I cannot believe this was allowed to happen in a UK court.<br /><br />All the "professionals" (ha ha) involved, starting with the brainless CPS (who should never have decided to prosecute), the various barristers who have torn apart three young lives and finally the weak and feeble judge (who could have aired his doubts BEFORE the trial) should be, at the very least, disciplined for poor professional judgement or lack of competence.<br /><br />What did they think they were doing?<br />What were they trying to achieve?<br />Who is supposed to have benefited?<br /><br />I hope they are all throughly ashamed of themseleves - but I doubt it.JohnRShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07021101596935644363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25298178714061617822010-05-25T16:36:36.966+01:002010-05-25T16:36:36.966+01:00Not being privy to the whole case, I still have to...Not being privy to the whole case, I still have to wonder what the jury were thinking in convicting the boys.<br /><br />Although in some ways I shouldn't be surprised, in view of the fact that we have made kids 'untouchable' these days - so maybe the jury was right after all.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12073019640077080501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-88825174220282887662010-05-25T16:20:01.760+01:002010-05-25T16:20:01.760+01:00I still can't believe the children had to sign...I still can't believe the children had to sign the sex offenders register along with paedophiles and serial rapists.Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12060185317575781641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26938643879275360182010-05-25T16:20:01.761+01:002010-05-25T16:20:01.761+01:00This is a good argument for abolishing CPS (Crimin...This is a good argument for abolishing CPS (Criminal Protection Service). They persecute men for sleeping with their wives, home owners for defending their property and now children. Yet at the same time they bend over backwards to find excuses for not prosecuting MPs and other genuine criminals. They are hated by the police.<br /><br />The CPS was introduced because of supposed incompetence of local police forces. They have proved that centralising prosecutions is no guarantee of improved quality. It is time to save money and support the coalition's drive to localism to return prosecutions to local police forces.Scary Biscuitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03039289019338752778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56366439388358826862010-05-25T16:18:30.023+01:002010-05-25T16:18:30.023+01:00Very well put, and I agree completely.Very well put, and I agree completely.Kalvis Jansonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13379157181034658841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-5758388746166503482010-05-25T16:14:27.489+01:002010-05-25T16:14:27.489+01:00Surely a case such as this needs to be dealt with ...Surely a case such as this needs to be dealt with in a less accusatorial way, perhaps heard by experts in a more formal atmosphere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-37944494659953879522010-05-25T16:14:27.490+01:002010-05-25T16:14:27.490+01:00Yet we allow teachers to inform children how to ha...Yet we allow teachers to inform children how to have sex at the age of 5. Sex is no longer an 'adult thing'.Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12060185317575781641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74330000401482338632010-05-25T16:10:10.928+01:002010-05-25T16:10:10.928+01:00Agreed. Totally.
Even if they knew the words, as ...Agreed. Totally.<br /><br />Even if they knew the words, as one Telegraph writer points out, rape is about power and sexual gratification - two things a 10yo is unlikely to understand, much less be seeking.<br /><br />This whole thing could've been handled with good parenting and perhaps a stern talking-to by the Duty Inspector. Instead, it's become a parody of justice.<br /><br />What's next - convictions for <a href="http://dungeekin.blogspot.com/2010/05/justice-ministry-to-review-sex-offences.html%22" rel="nofollow">Indecent Assault from a game of kiss-chase</a>? <br /><br />Surely this whole incident has sexualised (and traumatised) all three children much more than the original 'offence'.<br /><br />DDungeekinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09181585428709956991noreply@blogger.com