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New week, new scandal

(14 Posts)
CvD66 Tue 24-Jan-23 08:31:31

In 1966, 116 children were killed in Aberfan in the collapse of a colliery spoil tip. The UK reacted in horror and this disaster featured in our news for many days. In 2023, 222 asylum children have gone missing from the hotels where they were under this government’s care, 79 from one hotel. It is is presumed many have bene lured away by child traffickers! Few headlines, little reaction and the Home Secretary accused of turning a blind eye. This is the government who voted against protections for child refugees in 2020.

Anniebach Tue 24-Jan-23 08:51:45

In 1966 116 children were murdered in Aberfan, those guilty were named but kept their jobs, protected by the Wilson government and the unions.

Franbern Tue 24-Jan-23 09:11:58

CvD66 - have you got a link to that horrific second story about those children. Have not seen anything about this on the news.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 24-Jan-23 09:13:39

About 200 are said to be missing.

I reckon that is the least of it.

It comes from a home office that is one of the most brutal we have ever experienced.

nanna8 Tue 24-Jan-23 09:23:20

If this is known about ( and it seems it is ) what are they doing about it ? Are the police looking for them ? Surely they can’t just disappear like that.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 24-Jan-23 09:32:16

nanna8

If this is known about ( and it seems it is ) what are they doing about it ? Are the police looking for them ? Surely they can’t just disappear like that.

nanna We live in a parallel universe to the rest of the civilised world.

foxie48 Tue 24-Jan-23 09:35:19

It is said that some have disappeared to families but many are ending up in "county lines". It's totally shocking that we seem to care so little for them that vulnerable children get sucked into a life of crime and no-one cares. No doubt when they start appearing in the courts (as they will at some point) it will be said that they made the wrong life choices not that they were let down by a system that should have protected them.

nightowl Tue 24-Jan-23 09:57:06

I’m afraid this has been happening to young unaccompanied asylum seekers for at least twenty years, even when they were placed in children’s homes and in foster care. It is of course shocking that children were placed in hotels, but there is not the capacity in the care system to look after them properly, and even there they were never safe. It’s good that it’s getting the publicity it deserves at last though. Whether it leads to any real change is doubtful. The care system is broken, along with social care in general.

MerylStreep Tue 24-Jan-23 13:05:51

nanna8
We couldn’t stop our home grown grooming gangs ( and still haven’t)
There’s more chance of digging a hole in the North Sea than finding these children.
The traffickers who are taking them aren’t documented in the UK.

Last year my daughter phoned the police when she saw county lines dealers outside my grandchildrens school.
Nobody turned up. You can walk from that school to our police station.

25Avalon Tue 24-Jan-23 13:08:32

Not all of these were children either. Some are young men claiming to be years younger. The whole system needs an overhaul to protect both children and society.

Iam64 Tue 24-Jan-23 13:14:08

nightowl

I’m afraid this has been happening to young unaccompanied asylum seekers for at least twenty years, even when they were placed in children’s homes and in foster care. It is of course shocking that children were placed in hotels, but there is not the capacity in the care system to look after them properly, and even there they were never safe. It’s good that it’s getting the publicity it deserves at last though. Whether it leads to any real change is doubtful. The care system is broken, along with social care in general.

Exactly this. Family Court Judges would review the cases on a regular basis to see if a child had been found. It’s very difficult to keep children safe from determined traffickers. One child who was thought to be 8 years old was playing on a swing in the garden of her placement. Two men ran in grabbed her and disappeared. Her address hadn’t been shared with anyone. Five years later, still missing.
It must be impossible to safeguard unaccompanied children in hotels

Oreo Tue 24-Jan-23 13:48:47

The thing is, we can’t lock anyone up, even for their own protection, so it’s difficult.
Most that vanish won’t be young kids, more like teenagers and young men who may want to join things like county lines to make money.
For the ones who really are young and are taken, an adult should be with them if possible when they go out.It’s a real problem.

foxie48 Tue 24-Jan-23 18:49:41

Oreo

The thing is, we can’t lock anyone up, even for their own protection, so it’s difficult.
Most that vanish won’t be young kids, more like teenagers and young men who may want to join things like county lines to make money.
For the ones who really are young and are taken, an adult should be with them if possible when they go out.It’s a real problem.

Isn't this the line that was taken by the police when teenage girls were groomed and abused? It was a life style choice, it was what they wanted? Are we now going to divide vulnerable children up into those deserving of our care and those that are not? Perhaps you didn't mean that but that is how it came over to me.

foxie48 Tue 24-Jan-23 18:57:59

Further to this, we now know about the abuse of vulnerable children in three care homes in South Yorkshire. the police were informed, Ofsted was told but nothing was done. Vulnerable children made to eat chilli flakes, given cold baths, locked up in bathrooms overnight, vinegar poured into cuts! What the hell is going on? It is truly appalling and words almost fail me.