LETTER : Why serial child abusers still slip through the net

Sir: I read your leading article of 11 December, "Our blind eyes help the paedophiles to prey" with great interest. I have been commissioned by the Government to review the safeguards for children living away from home. My remit is to focus on the safeguards introduced in 1991 with the coming into force of the Children Act and measures taken since then to protect such children from abuse and other harm, particularly those in residential children's homes, foster care or boarding school. I am eager to have comments and views from a wide audience and I take the opportunity offered by your Christmas theme to extend an invitation to your readers to send their thoughts to me.

Sir WILLIAM UTTING

Children's Safeguards Review

Rooms 634-636, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG