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Police Trawling of Care homes The practice of police trawling has been heavily criticised, not least by the Home Affairs Select Committee. In 2002 they published their report into the use of trawling for evidence. Now carried out widely by police forces across the UK, it increased in popularity following extensive trawling operations in Wales. The report is available online via the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/836/83602.htm The report highlighted particular aspects of police trawling which are tailor-made to producing false allegations: ? Persistent approaches by police officers until a potential
witness agrees to make a complaint. All of the recommendations that the Committee made which could have removed the current imbalance in justice that we see in abuse investigations have never been acted upon. Instead, we continue to see investigations balanced in favour of an alleged victim, with increasing measures to protect them. What they are being protected from more than anything, is not the accused, identification in the media nor the public. Those making allegations are being protected from appreciating the consequences of their allegations, and the responsibility that comes with making them. It must be remembered also that the establishments and institutions which are most often targeted for trawling operations by police are not, and should not be considered to be, 'children's homes'. As with Kerelaw, these establishments house some of the most disturbed and damaged young people in our society. They suffer from serious behavioural problems and these are often combined with drug misuse and abuse suffered at home. Most of these people do not adjust to society easily, some never. Some remain 'career criminals' with a deep disregard and disrespect for others. For these, making such serious allegations against another in exchange for financial reward is not likely to cause them any concern. Further essential reading: The Secret of Bryn Estyn, by Richard Webster, published by Orwell
Press, ISBN: 09515922 4 6 www.richardwebster.net/howthepolicetrawltheinnocent.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/02/20/nabus20.xml http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/02/19/nfals19.xml www.insidetime.org/FebArticles/policetrawling.htm www.innocent.org.uk/misc/carers2.html www.coeffic.demon.co.uk/commons_select_committee.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/archive/1031559.stm
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