TAKEN FROM MAIN WEBSITE SOCIAL SERVICES

[Alison J Stevens]

As we know with all child care cases, it is inevitable that Social Services and Social workers become involved.

Many articles in the press over recent years have levied much criticism at Social Services and the treatment of families. The press cannot report something that isn't true or not have some evidence of fact. Nor can they break laws or violate the children's act. Otherwise, it would result in massive law suite to which a paper can ill afford. Local Authorities have their own legal department which is funded through tax payers money. Therefore it is fair to assume their financial pit is almost bottomless and with such a strong support could afford to take the press on. But they have not. Why? Because the press have reported the truth and the local authority would lose.

For Example, Liz Railton, formerly of Essex County Council, made a compliant to the press complaints committee as a result of all the press articles levied against Essex County Council during 2004/2005. But, the committee has done absolutely nothing because what the press reported was the truth.

Whenever we see a news event, the press, in order to have a balanced view, are compelled to ask the local authority for an opinion.

Their standard response is always as follows:

“We cannot comment on individual cases, each case is based on its own merit, Social Services follow procedures and the court make the final decision, these decisions are not taken lightly”

So, if evidence is submitted to the court, which is either incorrect, misrepresented, or even as severe as perjury, why won’t the police act? In Essex alone, we know seven families went to the police, and two cases in particular, where there was sufficient evidence to demonstrate an attempt to pervert the course of justice and also in one case we actually had evidence of a social worker perjuring himself.

Yet the police declined to investigate citing a procedural technicality as reason not to pursue the complaints.

Jack Frosts book of the Gulag of the Family Court clearly documents severe failings and names individuals who are culpable. If the claims of the book were either false or misleading, one has to ask the question why Jack has not been prosecuted for slander!

Here we feel it is important to highlight the achievements of some of the work thus far.

Focusing initially on Essex County Council.

Chris lost his children whilst living in Essex. He undertook much work to investigate the procedures of Essex County Council.

We believe, as a result of the seriously adverse publicity Essex County Council has received, and the documented evidence in Jack Frost’ book the “Gulag of the Family Court” we are pleased to state the following;

Liz Railton, former Director of Childrens Services for Essex County Council is no longer working for the local authority.

Head of Childrens Services for Essex County Council, Nicky Pace, is no longer working in the County.

Marcus Johnson, Service Locality Manager for Central Essex, (whom we know was in charge of many of the cases mentioned in the media) has been moved to Service Manager Residential Units. Sadly he is still in Essex but at least in this role he can do far less damage to families lives.