Cops and social workers unite to tackle child abuse
Acting Police Commissioner Anthony Ennis at the MASH opening, 20 March 2017
(CNS): The RCIPS has joined forces with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to create a dedicated unit to deal with the issue of child abuse from the moment of reporting through preparing a case for court. HSA counseling services are also involved in the new Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), which will provide a coordinated approach to child abuse reports. Police and social workers will be able to act more quickly and efficiently to keep kids safe and protect them from perpetrators of abuse and when necessary conduct more effective criminal investigations.
Over the last year there have been some harrowing cases in the courts where child sex abuse suspects have walked free because of negligence and delays in investigations, problems securing evidence and poor child interview techniques. While officials admitted that securing convictions in these circumstances could still be difficult, the unit’s main priority is to protect children and keep them safe while ensuring that the cases progress as well as possible.
The new MASH unit, based at Anderson Square in downtown George Town, was officially opened during a press conference Monday, though the event was packed with government officials before the office ribbon was cut by the governor and the premier.
The team of detectives, social workers and an HSA psychologist started working out of the offices last month. There are eight social workers and eight police officers currently in MASH, with plans to add three more officers who are currently undergoing training. It will serve as the first referral point for safeguarding concerns encountered by police officers, social workers, educators and health workers who come across possible cases of abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
Officials said that when one of these mandated reporters, another professional or a member of the public refers information to MASH, it is shared within the team and investigated. A cross-agency plan is then developed, the police said, for tracking the situation or intervening with family support and treatment, should circumstances merit.
Police officers also explained that training has formed an essential part of the joined-up unit to ensure that the chain of evidence and interview techniques with children are of a high standard and can be used in court if necessary to prosecute perpetrators.
“This multi-disciplinary approach to child safeguarding is a welcome approach and a top priority for the RCIPS, along with other stakeholder agencies, so we can leverage our resources to protect our nation’s children, and bring to justice predators that would rob a child of her or his innocence,” said Acting Commissioner of Police Anthony Ennis.
DCFS Director Felicia Robinson explained that working in the same office as the police would increase the speed and quality of the casework, “improving our services and our ability to intervene when necessary in a more timely and effective way”.
The unit is based on international best practice and Governor Helen Kilpatrick said these types of units can help protect vulnerable children from harm, neglect and abuse. “The establishment of the MASH is a big step forward toward comprehensive child safeguarding across the islands,” she added.
Premier Alden McLaughlin, who is also the health minister, said he was aware that the public was “concerned and appalled at any kind of child abuse”. He said his government was committed to tackling this and that ministries have worked together to form the multi-agency group.
“We fully support the critical work police and DCFS officers and HSA psychologists have already started in this office and can only thank them on behalf of the future generations they are working to protect,” McLaughlin said.
The MASH office is not a “walk-in” facility, but anyone wanting to report a concern regarding a child can contact DCFS at 949-0290 or George Town Police Station at 949-4222, or email DCFSIntake@gov.ky
Category: Crime, Crime Prevention
It is scary that this is a main issue in a population of only 65k
awesome work. so good to see progress… however, what we need is results! there’s a lot of people willing to give information!
Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. Lots of self-congratulating speeches took place over the years . ““… We are casting our net wide to
ensure that some of the most vulnerable persons in our society, such as
children…. are protected,” Mr. Adam said in 2010. How many perpetrators were prosecuted under 2010 Law” which says “Anyone found guilty under the new
law would be liable for a fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment for two years. If
court orders are not followed, further fines of $100 a day would be imposed for
each day the breach continues.”
And we still don’t know if Statutory rape law exists in the Cayman islands.
There are no statutory rape laws, however, one can be charged with defilement for “engaging in sexual acts with a minor.”
Wishing you success. You could be busy…
Well done Commissioner and all your colleagues that are finally recognising that a properly organised Child Protection Team need to be in force in the Cayman Islands. These perverts need to be brought to justice. The lives they have ruined of innocent children is appalling and in many countries these animals have got away scot free!! Not in the good old UK though. They are imprisoned and are not the favourites of other inmates while serving their sentence. However, with all due respect Sir, I think Cayman needs an experienced team leader in this field such as a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Child Protection who can supervise the team in the correct procedures as done over in the U.K. This needs years of managerial experience not a few months of training with Social workers. However, Cayman is going in the right direction and I take my hat off to you.
@ agree on experienced team leader. Victims of child abuse must be interviewed by highly qualified professionals in the field and strict regulations on the interview must be followed. I am afraid there is no manual on “Interviewing Child Victims of Maltreatment
Including Physical and Sexual Abuse” exists.
From American Prosecution Research Institute’s “Investigation and Prosecution of
Child Abuse” manual: “The number of investigative interviews should be limited to one
whenever possible. Multiple sessions are stressful for the child, are often unnecessary,
and can lead to seemingly inconsistent statements.
http://childlaw.sc.edu/frmPublications/InterviewingChildVictimsofMaltreatment.pdf