Social Chiefs’ Warning After Probe Report

Social work bosses accused of failing to adequately protect the public from violent offenders have hit back at the criticism.

As the Evening Times revealed last night, a report by the independent Social Work Inspection Agency said North and South Lanarkshire councils had tightened controls on sex offenders but not on violent high-risk individuals.

The inspection was ordered after James Campbell, a convicted sex offender who had been housed in a Coatbridge hostel, abducted a toddler and attempted to rape her. He was later jailed for 10 years.
Today, the councils said they were committed to making changes, but added they were relying on “limited resources”.

Jim Handibode, chairman of South Lanarkshire’s social work resources committee, said: “We have met key staff to look at the issues raised and have put an improvement plan in place.”

Harry McGuigan, convener of North Lanarkshire’s social work committee, said: “The report makes no reference to funding and resources. Justice services are centrally funded by the Scottish Executive. The limited funding has a significant impact on some areas of service provision, such as accredited programmes for rehabilitation of offenders.”