Do you know what Mandatory Reporting is, or what will happen if it is driven through Parliament any time soon ?
Today, I stumbled across someone who claimed to be able to explain the whole concept in 5 minutes ! Brilliant, I thought, bring it on !
Ok @Mandate Now tell us all, what is wring with the current system of reporting real and suspected abuse ?
'Behavioural expectation' in other words, we cannot rely on staff in these 'Regulated Activities' to tell their next in command. Worse still, it would appear that these Designated Safety Officer's don't have the skills to assess claims or concerns raised, according to Mandate Now that is !
Before we go any further, I should advise the reader the meaning of 'Regulated Activities'
http://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/documents/5-minute-guide.pdf
BTW these are the folks behind 'mandate now' !
I thought I'd ask them a few questions, firstly I wanted to know WHO would provide the 'specialist training' that the DSO's require.
I cannot show you the response I got to this and my next question about their 'research' into False Allegations because after I responded to their request for clarification about the 'point' I was trying to make, this happened !
Here's what they say about False Allegations enclosed in my second tweet !
I can't think why they would take umbrage at what is a perfectly reasonable comment, after all, they HAVE NOT done much research have they ? Oh well, I guess I'll live without being able to follow this lot, we will hear enough about them at a later date I'm sure.
They are kinda hypocritical though don't you think, when you consider their barrage of tweets to the NSPCC today including this one !
The NSPCC do not support 'blanket Mandatory reporting'. From their statement in March 2014 !
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/news-and-views/latest-news/2014/mandatory-reporting/mandatory-reporting_wda101963.html
Emm, maybe they will regret the pandora's box they co opened in January 2013, that one involving 'victims' and voices !!
There's been lots of coverage today of former DPP and future government Minister's, interview on Radio 4. He was talking about the victims law that he hope's will replace proper law, much like his Savile Polis replaced the real Police !
I wonder if the BBC got the next bit right as it implies that 'victims' should themselves be MADE to report incidents whether they want to or not - PLEASE FEEL free to correct me if I'm wrong, because this next bit does NOT make sense !
Or does it ? Is he saying that alleged 'victims' can by pass the Police Station as well as cross examination in a court of Law ? Dear me, this just get's worse !
Here's what teachers have to look forward to if they vote labour in the general election !
Only a fool would risk the wrath of the most combatant of combatant national unions and guarantee non election success by saying the following !
I covered the issue of Mandatory Reporting back in October 2013 in a blog post that included the following NSPCC tweet !
http://rabbitaway.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/mandatory-reporting-first-21-mins-of.html
The battle lines appear to be drawn and the vested interests are all lining up for a piece of the 'victims' cake. I still don't know HOW MR will work in practice or WHO will force staff to report suspicions to a senior designated person, maybe the threat of a few years in prison will help.
And, just WHO will provide that 'specialist training' that the likes of NAPAC seem so keen to sanction - I wonder !
In case you are in any doubt, MR will fall within Safeguarding legislation !
I don't see MWT's name anywhere on this site, not like him to be shy, but this is his company isn't it ?
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/feb/24/mark-williams-thomas-jimmy-savile
I've chosen a header alleged to be from the Guardian Newspaper dated 1.11.1989. I found this courtesy of another blogger who has published numerous extracts from the press on the subject of 'paedophiles' - thank you Sir for bring me this !
The page is difficult to read even though the blogger breaks it down into 3 pieces, but Guys and Gals I did what i needed to do to inform you the reader as best I could - here goes !
So, Jimmy was managing building works at BM - what else was he doing ?
More about the building works !
'prevented things getting completely out of control' - nice one Jim !
Good, now we've moved onto the patients and THE OUTINGS Jimmy arranged for them ! Jimmy is described a 'chair' of the BM 'management board' !
Jimmy's words starting from "For the last 20 years ... " could have been lifted from David Cohen's analysis of the problems faced by the patients who were not wanted by any other hospital once they were ready to leave BMH.
http://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/saviles-travails-01-11-89/
Alan Franey co authored a book - this one !
Extracts from the book are available online for folk who wish to know more about the state of High Security Hospitals in England circa 1988. It was published in 1998 !
I read with astonishment, that things were so bad between the management and the staff that they considered bring the army in !
Bad enough not being able to get out for a pee during the night eh !
Sounds like a good guy who gave a shit doesn't it ?
In my last piece I promised you details of another author who visited BMH and mentioned Jimmy Savile. Marjorie Wallace wrote a book called 'The Silent Twins' about two 18 year old girls admitted to BMH in June 1982 for, amongst other things, arson. It's an intriguing, but very sad story and certainly worth a read. Here's an article from the Independent in 1993 about the tragic death of one of them !
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/inquiry-into-death-of-silent-twin-1497079.html
Ms Wallace mentions Jimmy in her book, again, these extracts are available online !
She goes on
The book was first published in 1986 although the above is taken from the 1998 edition. I wondered what Ms Wallace makes of the Savile revelations especially given the fact that she is Chief Executive of Sane a leading Mental Health charity that she founded in 1986 !
http://www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/about_sane/marjorie_wallace
Goodness, another great person with a conviction to do good unto others. I wanted to know moor about her, it seems that she was an investigative journalist too !
Sorry, it's hard to see but that says, The Sunday Times 1972 to 1989.
I'm not sure Marjorie believes the stories about Jimmy if this 2013 piece about 'BBC Groper's' is anything to go by !
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/marjoriess-fond-memories-of-bbc-gropers-8629477.html
Ms Wallace is indeed a most remarkable woman whose husband, a Polish Count no less, died around the same time as Jimmy ! She has certainly had an interesting life !
I haven't quite finished my stay at Broadmoor yet. I may get a parole pass and wonder around the gardens, I could do with a break !
© Rabbitaway
Before October 2012 I hardly thought of Broadmoor at all and when I did I didn't associate this image with the place !
No, the image I associated with Broadmoor was this !
Despite numerous references to the contrary in the press etc, Ian Brady was NEVER an inmate of BMH. He is still in Ashworth and has been since 1965. Just the same, I always think of the place where the worst of the worst are sent, never to be released EVER. That is, I always thought of it, it is a prison for the criminally insane NOT really a hospital at all !
The following BBC article published 5 months before Jimmy Savile's death shows that I was not the only one thinking this way !
I've just found this page, it makes for interesting reading, especially the bit about SECURITY !
'A series of electronic gates', wait a minute, MWT did not mention this fact when he was brow baiting Alan Franey about Jimmy Savile's 'keys' ? It get's better !
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9475000/9475065.stm
Remember Mr Franey describing the 'staff social club' in my earlier blog
http://rabbitaway.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/managing-inside-broadmoor-with-jimmy-pt.html
Or this, from the one before in regard to WHERE Jimmy actually worked and SLEPT !
http://rabbitaway.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/an-honary-member-of-nutters.html
BMH has had many scandals and had been the subject of numerous investigations etc and, television documentaries. The one made by the BBC is untraceable but the independent chaps have made at least one that is available to view online. One is called 'Inside Broadmoor and was made in 2002 by David Cohen. The presenter immediately tells his audience that :
"Twenty years ago the producers of this program made a film which exposed scandals inside" the onscreen caption reads
The film he refers to is this, made by ATV in 1981 !
http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/mivana/mediaplayer.php?id=9fb2fc1f486c172c5f72fc9318cbe365&media=iwasinbroadmoor_1981&type=mp4
There is only a very short clip on TV Ark but useful nevertheless for the small print at the bottom there. Indeed 1981 was the International Year of the child'. I doubt that Jimmy would have been featured in it though, he was busy elsewhere building hospitals.
I'm now willing to bet that Jimmy was NOT in Mr Cohen's film because, although it is NOT available for viewing, there are some copies of the book he wrote about his period of NOT filming inside Broadmoor. Yes, that's right, he was refused permission to film inside the Hospital or interview any staff or patients. He did his research though and he spoke to a number of ex patients and staff.
The picture Cohen paints of BM in 1981 is grim. I was appalled at the descriptions of the patients lives. Unlike prisoners, they have no sentence, their stay being "without limit of time". Here's a description of a normal day, be prepared to be shocked !
A TYPICAL PATIENT'S DAY (Summer)
6.55 am The Day staff unlock the patient's siderooms or dormitories
6.55 -7.20 Wash dress make beds
7.20 - 8am Go to Day room for a cuppa
8.00 Breakfast
8.30 Day Room, medication, prep to go to occupation areas
9.00 - 11.45 Go to occupation Areas (weekdays only) escorted by staff
11.45 Return to wards, wash, assemble for lunch
12.00 Lunch
12.30 Return to Ward under escort, medication and recreation
1.30 Assemble and return to Occupation areas til 3.40
4pm Tea
4.30 Return to Wards, have meds, siderooms, bathrooms, dorms unlocked. Patients can bathe or wash their clothes etc
6.30 Assemble to visit the garden (airing Courts) under ESCORT
7.20 Back to ward for ROLL CALL
7.30 Supper on Ward served by nursing staff, recreation inc TV, card playing OBSERVED BY STAFF
8.30 Change into bed clothes
8.45 Report to Clinical room for night sedation
9.00 pm BED LOCKED IN THEIR ROOMs/DORMS
That's LOCKED IN ! In the morning they are woken by the Nurses walking through shouting at them to 'get up and SLOP OUT' ! There is NO PRIVACY, washing, dressing is 'closely supervised' and nurses were known to sneer at the patients as they get out of their weekly bath ! NO one is allowed to stay in bed unless they are ill or in the infirmary !
OUTINGS
'Few patients remembered going on more than one outing during the whole stay in the hospital, though DURING JUBILEE WEEK in 1977, there was a definate attempt to take patients out for JOLLIFICATIONS'
I include the above information so that the reader can get a feel of the environment these folk are confined to. Good enough for them some would say, but 20% of them have broken no laws let alone kill or maim anyone.
So, where is Jimmy Savile in all this ? Indeed where is the man who wielded so much power and influence pre Task Force that he was able to do what he wanted and go where he wanted ? Well, Jimmy does get a mention from Cohen who obviously has no idea that he is the 'honary Assistant Entertainments Officer'
It's 1977 again folks when 'Brian, despite being beaten up proudly produced for me the program for the Queen's Jubilee week. There were prawns and steak meals,James Bond films, a VISIT FROM JIMMY SAVILE and disco's.'
The next paragraph is an eye opener too !
'The socials are also one of the few occassions when the sexes meet...... Most houses hold a social evening once a month, which includes a buffet supper and a disco. Bedtime is pushed back to 11o'clock. There is dancing but these brief contacts between men and women are HEAVILY SUPERVISED.
I went in search of others who had done time in BM and lived not only to tell the tale, but to write about it. One such person is janet Cresswell, her story called 'The Ox Bow' was published in 2006.
Ms Cresswell left BM in 2003 if that report is correct, it continues
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/after-a-lifetime-in-broadmoor-the-writer-janet-cresswell-is-free-at-last-433070.html
I felt sure that Ms Cresswell would have made some acquaintance with Jimmy given the fact that she spent night on 27 years in the place. The following extracts from her book confirm that she was certainly aware of him !
How annoying that the last sentence is incomplete, now I'll have to buy the book ! Then it's back to the Jubilee again and letters to Jim'll Fix it !
There are other literary folk whose paths crossed with Jimmy at BM. I'll tell you moor about this and Jimmy's role at BM from 1988 onwards next time !
