What about being more dynamic and pro-active towards dealing with child abuse.
Article added on the 3 Dec 2016
Our society continues to be in a mess, what do we do to stem the tide of abuse and abuse allegations?
The current debacle with football clubs and allegations by the '40 somethings' has to be treated with great caution, in my opinion. Media presure is again pushing the police services to 'get in there' and arrest half of the FA, every former and current coach of the most minor clubs and principally, anyone who has involvement in weekend 'local league' colt football. I can see this becoming another great opportunity for the police services to call for increased budgets (which they'll get) and not ring fence the money, allowing them to cross subsidise other aspects of their service.
There has been abuse in football clubs, because there have been reported prosecutions of the last 30 years. Much the same in Youth Clubs, Scouts groups and other childrens leisure activities. So no way can we deny it does not happen.
In my former life I was a Designated lead on Child Protection. I have attended the courses on 'Employment Safeguarding in Education' and have the certificates stating that I have attended the training for 'Safeguarding Children - Level 3' (This is the highest level). What happens today in screening potential candidates for employment or involvement with children is so very different to that of 10 years ago, let alone the 80's. The public are not aware of the rigourous inquiries that are made about an applicants in modern times. Applicants are often asked very personal and challenging questions about their desires and involvement with children. Something that would not have a place in other work environments.
We cannot safeguard against every eventuality, but we can stem the flow of abuse in all walks of life and work with a little proactive effort. The term 'historic' used in the of past context of child abuse has become a misnomer. Purely because it is now being used to describe some paedophile behaviour of recent times. The term 'paedophile' has become all encapturing well away from its clear definition under law.
If you think the national inquiry is in a muddle, the broader aspects of views on child safeguarding are a right buggers muddle!