Jersey abuse case shows inquiry is needed, says Senator

LAST week’s revelations that child protection services failed to stop a boy being abused and neglected for 12 years show that an official inquiry is needed into the management of Health and Social Services, says Senator Alan Breckon.

He has written to all States Members saying that a committee of inquiry should have been convened.

And he believes there is a now a need for open, focussed and reasoned debate about child protection not marred by personal animosity.

In September last year, the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel, which the Senator chairs, lodged a States proposition calling for just such an inquiry. The proposition was drafted by a sub panel of the main panel convened to look into the issue.

However, when the States debated the proposals, it was heavily defeated, with every minister and two former Health Ministers voting against it.