Today’s Talking Point
Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for child protection, was met with controversy yesterday for suggesting that parents should report their own children to the police.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Bailey said: “If, as a parent, you are aware that your son has been responsible for a sexual assault then I think you should again be taking your son to the police and saying ‘Look, I’ve now become aware that this is what my son has done’.”
The comments follow a wave of allegations surrounding some of London’s top independent schools, as thousands of students took to the Everyone’s Invited website to share testimonies of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault.
Sir Keir Starmer has already pushed for an inquiry into these allegations, and today Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng voiced his own concerns that action had not been taken far sooner, after it emerged that a report highlighting sexual harassment and violence in schools called for change five years ago.
But plenty think that parents turning in their own children is a step too far, with calls for improved education as the better solution.
What do you think? Would you turn in your own child to the police, or is there a better way to start fixing this problem?
Have your say by commenting below for the chance to be featured in tomorrow’s Talking Point.
Yesterday’s Talking Point: Should acronyms like BAME be scrapped?
Yesterday we asked you whether acronyms like BAME should be scrapped. Here’s what you had to say:
Some of you thought that the term BAME should be scrapped, as it creates unnecessary division. John Heymann said: “Absolutely. Differentiating between people only serves to divide our society even more.”
Deji Fadahunsi agreed with this, saying “we are all humans, we shouldn’t have to have terminology that differentiates people.” But he also pointed out that while prejudice still exists, these terms are necessary in making sure that everyone gets equal opportunities.
“BAME as a term is very much needed all the time prejudice exists in society mainly from the majority populations, that minorities do indeed need to support each other regardless of backgrounds and culture.”
“We should all be coming together regardless of what was taught in the past.”
Others, such as Michelle Dibble, pointed to the practicality of having a term that denotes ethnic minorities in situations where it isn’t possible to name each one individually. But on the other hand, Fadahunsi also pointed out that “many Black British say they don’t like to be lumped into one catch all bracket term that doesn’t regard individual groups.”
