Wednesday, May 20th, 1981
Caning of girls ‘worse than in last century’
By Pat Healy, Social Services Correspondent
Girls in care in Leicestershire are subject to more severe caning than would have been allowed in either nineteenth century warehouse or the old approved school, the Society of Teachers Opposed to Physical Punishment said yesterday.
Another 38 authorities were ignoring Government advice that corporal punishment should be banned in community homes.
The persistence of physical punishment in some community homes was disclosed by the society after a survey of 130 local social service authorities. The society yesterday urged Mr Patrick Jenkin, Secretary of State for Social Services, to ban all corporal punishment of children in care; in line with the recommendations of a recent circular issued with ministerial approval.
“It is an intolerable blot on the reputation of a civilized society that children in care, who are already deprived of the security of a normal family environment, should be subjected to institutionalized beatings.