OPINION

THE story of thieving carer Susan Pell is, sadly, all too familiar these days.

She stole £50 from Peter Carpenter, the 89-year-old gentleman she was supposed to be looking after. He had his suspicions and his family installed a CCTV camera that captured Pell raiding his wallet. How low can a person stoop?

Increasingly concerned family members are turning to surveillance cameras if they fear that their loved ones are being mistreated in care homes or even, as in Mr Carpenter’s case, in their own homes.

And increasingly we are seeing evidence of neglect, cruelty and dishonesty.

Whether this is an indictment of modern society or whether this wicked behaviour has always gone on is beside the point. What is clear is that our population is ageing and more and more of us will either end our days in residential homes or need professional carers who make regular house calls.

CCTV has a part to play in monitoring the behaviour of those in whom we place our trust but there must also be a change in attitude to those in the caring professions.

Many who go into this work are dedicated and compassionate and deserve the highest praise, especially since they are certainly not doing it for financial reward.

But it also obviously attracts criminals such as Pell who think it is low-grade, easy work that enables them to take advantage of the vulnerable and trusting.

The director of Action on Elder Abuse has called for jail sentences in the worst cases.

How many more horrible cases must come to light before action is taken?