escargot
Disciple of Marduk
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2001
- Messages
- 43,331
- Location
- HM The Tower of London
That sounds like the good news...
I like the terminology. Still this is the bad news right?
Did nobody seriously consider a work-around for childrens' homes where this is an issue? You would think that bureaucrats might have seen the merit of a separate document for "frequent fliers" that put them on a register, and took them off once they reached their majority? I can see some merit in not restraining them, I mean, many childrens' homes have been havens for pedophiles after all, plus, unless the kids are actually out doing crimes, they aren't actually criminals and shouldn't be detained. Of course that doesn't make a bobby's job any easier as you point out, and law enforcement end up carrying the can for Child Services, which is a waste of everybody's time and resources. I am interested to hear how you would have done a work-around the issue M.O.?
It sounds like frequent fliers went straight to the bottom of the to-do pile, amirite?
'Frequent fliers' certainly did NOT go 'straight to the bottom of the to-do pile'. Where did you get that idea? We'd notify the police who'd would look out for them and usually bring them back.
Some were determined to get as far away as possible and one or two went missing for good, not dead but able to lie low until they reached about 18 and a half and so not Children's Services' responsibility any more. We'd hear this through the grapevine.
unless the kids are actually out doing crimes, they aren't actually criminals and shouldn't be detained
There are several types of children's homes. Some are 'secure', where they are kept on site for various reasons. I usually worked on 'open' sites where children were free to come and go within age-appropriate limits as a child at home would be, eg to see friends in town or go to the cinema or whatever. They weren't prisoners whatever the reason for their stay.
However, staff are in loco parentis and need to know where the children are. If the child wasn't where they were supposed to be they were legally missing. Same with a child who's living with their own parents. Troubled teenagers are vulnerable to all sorts of dangers and temptations and are as entitled as anyone else to be cared about and have their absence noted.