Letter: Abuse: playing to the voters

Peter Reynolds
Sunday 12 May 1996 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: In your report "Summit to crack down on abusers" (11 May) you quote from the Secretary of State for Wales's letter: "Whenever abuse of children in public care occurs it naturally gives rise to a strong public reaction. As a government we need to be seen to be responding to this appropriately."

I have not seen the full text of his letter, but it does not appear to have occurred to him that the public duty of care requires the Government to act to remedy the situation. What he is concerned with is that the Government should be "seen" to be responding to the public reaction. In other words, he pays regard to the electoral implications, and expects, perhaps rightly, the Prime Minister and Cabinet to have the same narrow view, rather than a concern to protect children from future abuse.

Peter Reynolds

Southport

Merseyside

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in