Search

  • In

Coroner calls for compulsory checks of children

» 26/08/2011, Posted by Site Admin

Rotorua Coroner Wallace Bain has called for compulsory spot checks of all children from birth to the age of 5 to ensure they are safe and to avoid a repeat of the 'horrific' death of toddler Nia Glassie.

The coroner also recommends there be state intervention and monitoring of children in single parent homes where the family have previously come to the attention of authorities, where a mother works fulltime and others care for the children and where domestic or child violence has been identified.

The Coroner's comments are outlined in the following article in the NZ Herald:
NZ Herald - Article by Cherie Taylor available at:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10747347

However, child protection advocates have questioned whether compulsory monitoring of at-risk families would stop child abuse, and may backfire. This and other views are included in the following interview on Radio NZ, which is attached as an audio file, and also available from the Radio NZ website at:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport under the title: 'Child protection advocates say monitoring could backfire'

Government's 'Green Paper for Vulnerable Children' presents ideas about how Government could better protect children and prevent them becoming vulnerable, including a wide range of ideas for discussion, including the potential for Government to:
* develop and implement a Vulnerable Children's Action Plan
* changes to legislation including mandating cross agency reporting
* increasingly target its spending on vulnerable children
* review spending on parents to make sure it makes the most difference at the right time for parents and caregivers of vulnerable children
and more.

The Green Paper is a discussion document, and submissions can be made until 28 February 2012. When all submissions have been received and analysed, a White Paper will be released outlining a Vulnerable Children's Action Plan. For a copy of the Green Paper and information on how to make a submission, see www.facebook.com/greenpaperonchildren or www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz/