A report has revealed that the number of allegations of physical and sexual child abuse in schools has risen.
In the past three academic years (2008-2011) there has been a 19% increase and in that time dismissals have increased by 66% and suspensions by 41%.
The report is entitled "Safe from Harm".
It was undertaken by a legal research company looking at the effectiveness of legislation that was introduced to protect children in the wake of the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
Freedom of Information requests were sent to all 152 LEAs in England and the key findings include:
In the past three schools years a total of 9,048 allegations of physical and sexual child abuse have been made against staff with and without Qualified Teaching Status (QTS).
This has resulted in 1,355 suspensions and 866 dismissals of staff with and without QTS.
only 10% of these allegations resulted in dismissal and of those suspended, 64% were dismissed.
In Yorkshire and the Humber 714 allegations were made against staff with and without QTS between 2008 and 2011. 172 staff were suspended during that time with 63 members of staff being dismissed.
The information collated from the report supports my concern that there are still too many people gaining access to children, for their own iniquitous behaviour. I am equally concerned that some LEAs were unable to provide us with this data as they do not record these statistics.
– Malcolm Underhill, IBB Solicitors, who represents victims of child abuse
This Report lays out important issues in a balanced manner and we hope it will be used to promote public debate - when 10% of allegations which are reported result in dismissals we have to be concerned. What happens in the other 90% of cases? The likelihood is reprimands, retraining, employment warnings, poor practice, as well as unsubstantiated claims. This is not scaremongering - parents are entitled to know the answers where it's their children who are involved. We have to go beyond the era when questions were not asked and children had no voice.
– Jan Cosgrove, National Secretary of Fair Play for Children,
Police: More than 400 Jimmy Savile claims are now to be treated as part of a formal criminal investigation
Police looking into claims of child sexual exploitation by the late Jimmy Savile and others, have now launched a formal criminal investigation.
Operation Yewtree has so far gathered more than 400 line sof enquiry and over 200 potential victims have been identified.
Though there will be no police investigation into Jimmy Savile, it has emerged that there are living people that require formal investigation as a result of the inquiry so far.
We are dealing with alleged abuse on an unprecedented scale. The profile of this operation has empowered a staggering number of victims to come forward to report the sexual exploitation which occurred during their childhood.
Today’s demonstrations in Rotherham between opposing groups, supporters of the English Defence League and United Against Fascism, passed by without any significant disorder. 800 extra police officers were on duty in Rotherham town centre to minimise disruption and protect property.
Approximately 300 EDL members took part in demonstration while 150 people held a counter-demonstration elsewhere in the town centre.
South Yorkshire Police made just three arrests; one man was arrested on suspicion of public order including making threats towards a police officer, a second man was arrested on suspicion of affray and a third man was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.
I’m pleased that the demonstrations passed without significant disruption today and that the residents of Rotherham were able to go about their usual business as much as possible.
– South Yorkshire Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt
Rallies in Rotherham over 'child protection scandal'
Calendar
Extra police will be on duty in Rotherham today as the English Defence League and Unite Against Fascism are set to stage rallies. It follows allegations last month that South Yorkshire Police withheld information about the extent of exploitation of young white females by organised groups of men.
South Yorkshire Police has denied the claims. Approximately two hundred people are expected to take part in a march by the English Defence League from 12.30pm, which will end up at Rotherham Town Hall. A march by the Unite Against Fascism will also end there, some time after 3pm.
There is expected to be disruption to traffic and public transport using Corporation Street between noon and 3pm.
A former boss of the Great Yorkshire show has admitted possessing child pornography.
Charles Littleboy, who used to be a policeman, had almost four thousand indecent images of child abuse. Littleboy, from Thirsk in North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to 21 charges at Teeside Crown Court.
He was arrested in February 2010 after an investigation by, the online child protection organisation CEOP. Littleboy is a former director of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which organises the Great Yorkshire Show.
