For the purposes of the child protection register, there are four categories of abuse which are recognised. These are neglect, physical injury, sexual and emotional. ECC might be guilty of the first of these to some extent. However mild this abuse may be, it does need to be addressed.
Is Exeter City Council guilty of child abuse?
Indisputably, society has a duty of care towards its children. This duty falls most heavily on the parents, but we all have a share in this responsibility, and especially the community in which the children are being raised. Every person who pays tax is contributing to their education, but that is a wide field. The Summerway Club used to play a significant role in the education of the young, teaching physical skills, social skills, citizenship, the maintenance of health, and so on. ECC has pursued a course of action which has deprived local juniors of the services of this band of volunteers. By replacing this provision of structured and supervised activity by empty facility, ECC is surely neglecting the needs of children.
