This item was first published on the FACT website on 18th September
Here is, at last, the APGAI newsletter covering our work over the last few months.I have had meetings with:
Hazel Blears
(Home Office Minister responsible for the Police & Crime Reduction)
The purpose of this debate was to highlight the fact that during the last 10 years thousands of teachers have been falsely accused of ‘crimes’ they did not commit and despite the fact that only 1% of those accused are successfully prosecuted the minister argued that there was insufficient evidence to change the rules and procedures which govern the way in which complaints are dealt with. Needless to say I was disappointed with the response. The follow up meeting I had with Hazel was more productive and we are now working with her office on a number of matters - more about that in our next newsletter.
Paul Goggins (Home Office Minister for Prisons)
The meeting we had with Paul Goggins was by comparison far more constructive, we discussed at length the treatment of sex offenders and the policies for managing ‘deniers’. There will be further meetings in future.
Lord Justice Sir John Kay
(Chair of the Criminal Justice Council)
Sir John and I had an excellent meeting with whole hearted agreement that the procedures for investigating sex abuse allegations were a source of significant disquiet in the judicial process. This was the most enlightening conversation I have had to date with anyone and I was most distressed to learn of his death just a few days later.
Judge Alan Wilkie QC (Law Commission)
He agreed that there seems to be a general raising of awareness that there are methodological problems involved in the preparation of evidence for trial in connection with allegations of historic child abuse. The Law Commissioners have discussed this and recognise that it is a subject in which a whole series of problems cause much disquiet. However due to a very full programme and other problems, it would seem that the Commission will not be able to undertake such a large scale project, certainly not in the foreseeable future. The Judge leaves the Commission this month, I look forward to meeting his successor.
Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
During the year I have had several meetings with the Criminal Cases Review Commission, some of them accompanied by Mark Newby. The CCRC are very slow delivering on their promises but we will continue to question them and Mark and I have another appointment with them.
Charles Clarke (Secretary for Education)
Charles Clarke has evidently spoken to David Blunkett about his concerns re teachers and false accusations. Charles has proposed a school based procedure which would have to be pursued before referring complaints to either social services or the police. Personally I think the proposal is a good idea but a non starter. I will maintain contact with Charles Clarke to see how things are progressing.
Additionally ...
The All Party Group for Abuse Investigations is working closely with Mark Newby and the Historic Abuse Appeal Panel to increase our success rate with the press. The fact that Anver Sheikh has to face is re trial is a great disappointment but he has a good team behind him and we must hope and pray for the best outcome.
Another Residential Home case comes to the Appeal Court in November and I am hopeful that two more will follow without too much delay. It goes without saying that several successful appeals on the right grounds would strengthen my hand considerably.
The APGAI are planning a conference for December that will focus on the many different types of abuse that we have become aware of. The aim of the conference is to create publicity and highlight the various aspects of abuse and the difficulties in challenging false accusations. Members of both Houses, the media, the legal profession, trade unions and professional associations are amongst those to be invited. Support Organisations will be invited to send representatives. From this you will see that we continue to meet with Senior Members of the Judiciary and the Government in order to keep this matter before them and there are more meetings planned for the future.
I have to thank members of the APGAI, in particular the Executive and all those people, unknown to you, who give of their time to help with this work, without them it could not be done. I am much encouraged by their support.
Kindest Regards
Claire
Claire Curtis-Thomas MP
September 2004
Our thanks to Claire and her supporters for all the hard work she is doing to advance our cause