THE story about poor Baby P, who had his back broken (Yorkshire Post, November 12) contains an interesting thread about the perceived nature of professional responsibility nowadays.

In the earlier Victoria Climbie case, the argument seemed to be that parents should be able to send a child halfway round the world to the care of people they hardly know and then blame social services if it all goes wrong.

In this new case, the parents have got all the blame and the professionals seem to be using this as a way of avoiding any blame themselves.

No-one will resign because no-one did anything wrong; the line seems to be that they were all duped.

Is not the real point that the parents (or those in their place) and professionals are at least equally responsible? Surely the professionals are supposed to be some protection for the children against nasty adults pulling wool over official eyes?

I do not think for one moment that this issue is unique to the social work and medical professions. It seems to be a difficulty for all professions nowadays (including mine) to remember what we are here for.

In truth, a lot of professionalism is about taking responsibility, irrespective of blame.

From: Paul Whitaker, Apperley Lane, Rawdon, Leeds.

SO, once again, we are reading in the national news about the horrific death of a baby which, despite being seen at least 60 times by council staff and registered as an "at risk" case, died because they failed to spot the poor child had been used as a "punchbag" and had his back broken.

The result? Two written warnings.

At the same time, we are exhorted by another council not to use the phrase "singing from the same hymn-sheet" in case it offends some atheist group or other.

Helpful alternatives for this and other perceived non-PC phrases have even been drafted at ratepayers' expense – thereby adding to the already incomprehensible language used by many in local government.

As an example, they never, ever, have a "problem" you'll have noticed.

Dear me, no. These people have "issues". And if it's heading for a real screw-up they get elevated to "challenging issues" (which, by the way, "must never happen again").

Meantime, more babies die and council services continue to go to hell in a hand-basket.

From: Michael Perry, Oakleigh View, Baildon.

A baby has sadly died, no doubt after suffering months of torture, yet the "professionals" (I use that word very loosely) who were supposed to protect this young very vulnerable person failed yet again. However, no one is to be held accountable and lose their job, although this death could so very easily have been prevented.

Some professionals cannot afford to make mistakes of this magnitude, and they should never happen when the clues are so blatantly obvious – as they were in this tragic case and young Victoria Climbie a few years ago. It's incredible that these two children have died such horrific deaths yet the people who are actually paid to protect them prove themselves not only to be negligent, but care more about keeping their jobs than accepting their responsibilities and leaving a job they evidently were unable to do to an acceptable standard.

From: Clive Bailey, The Crescent, Carlton, Stockton-on-Tees.

I SHAKE my head in disbelief at yet another case of a baby being tortured to death by its guardians. Every day brings a report about an innocent person being stabbed by knife-carrying yobs on the street. Frail old people are attacked in their own homes. Rape is commonplace but often goes unreported. People-trafficking thrives. Organised dog fights are on the increase.

Where did all the wicked people come from? What happened to the caring, law- abiding country into which I was born?

Could a slackening of the rules and a lack of self-discipline possibly have something to do with it?


Right to Roam depends on funding

From: Keith Wadd, chairman, Ramblers' Association, West Riding Area, Rossett Beck, Harrogate.

THE Yorkshire Post is to be thanked for drawing attention (November 1) to the important issue of the right to roam "cash squeeze".

The Right to Roam is a success story. People haven't overrun the new access land (no one who knew anything about it ever thought they would), but an increasing number of walkers are quietly discovering the new countryside which they now can use, enjoying the wide prospect from Meugher and Crow Hill and other fine viewpoints, treading new ridges such as Old Cote Moor and along to Horse Head, exploring new upland valleys such as Blayshaw Gill, Gate Up Gill and Ramsden Clough.

There have been no serious incidents, and precious few minor ones. We see little likelihood of the Right to Roam leading to "growing bogs and mud traps", but there is an urgent need for many more access routes to access land, and for more access points over walls and fences. Existing furniture constantly needs repair or replacement, and there is a big shortfall of access signs.

With the implementation of the Right to Roam, and rights of way in general noticeably improved, the Government has done well in facilitating countryside access for walkers and other users, and the plaudits are deserved. It would be highly regrettable if things now began to deteriorate because of under-funding.

The amount of money devoted to access in the countryside is peanuts in terms of overall government expenditure, but it brings high dividends in the contribution that walking gives to the nation's health and (well illustrated when countryside walking ceased during foot and mouth) the rural economy.


We need our neighbours

From: Patrick Arber, Bradford.

IT'S all very well for Barbara Stark (Yorkshire Post, October 31) to cite oil-rich Norway and banking haven Switzerland as managing to survive outside the EU, but what about Iceland now rushing to join, but after the horse has bolted?

The reality is that, whether we like it or not, we are a group of interdependent countries. The EU is where we meet to thrash out common solutions to common problems. Britain has important interests to defend and we need our voice at the table when deals are made. That Norway and Switzerland let others decide for them is their problem.

Over-spending

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Littlefield Lane, Grimsby.

I am puzzled as to what is happening to the UK economy, for I thought that over-borrowing had helped to bring about the credit crunch.

So why the jubilation over the 1.5 per cent cut in interest rates that will surely encourage yet more people to over-extend their finances? As for the Government, it seems to want to spend its way out of recession, oblivious to how much they have to borrow.

Won't this simply lead to problems in the long run?

Male order

From: David Jones,
The Croft, Sheriff Hutton, York.

I READ with interest (Yorkshire Post, November 10) about the appointment of Dame Joan Bakewell as the Voice of Older People by "Minister for Women" Harriet Harman. Can anyone tell me who the "Minister for Men" is? There must be one. Surely the Labour Government aren't rampant sexists, are they?