Saturday 27 March 2010

‘Lessons have been learnt’

By Andy Sibcy

Health Minister Anne Pryke at the press conference with Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand (left) and Education Minister James Reed.

THE Health Minister yesterday refused to say whether anyone would face disciplinary action over failures to stop a boy suffering abuse and neglect for more than a decade.

Deputy Anne Pryke faced the media yesterday after the publication of a damning report which looked at how many agencies failed the boy.

She said that lessons had and would continue to be learned, but would not say whether any action was being taken against individuals.

The serious case review, which was published by the Jersey Child Protection Committee – a body charged with overseeing child protection services, found evidence that the boy had been left prey to paedophiles in a home characterised by shocking abuse and neglect.

It made 32 recommendations and found that social services, the courts, the police, schools and other agencies failed the child, to a greater or lesser extent, for 12 years.

Deputy Pryke appeared at yesterday’s press conference as the chairman of the children’s policy group, a States panel charged with child protection. Fellow group members Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand and Education Minister James Reed were also there.

Article posted on 27th March, 2010 - 2.58pm

‘Lessons have been learnt’