Figures show need for state involvement

The fact an average of nearly two children per week have been taken into care across Tayside in the past five years will shock many whose lives are not blighted by the kind of social problems which aflict so many in society.

Under circumstances where a minor is in danger, or may be in potential danger, a local authority can apply to the sheriff court for a Child Protection Order (CPO). It is not hard to envisage situations where such orders are required.

While some are staunchly of the view that children should stay within their family environment, there have been recent high-profile cases which prove that is not always the best solution. Ironically, the worst of them have been in Fife which has not yet provided information to this paper about how many CPOs it has sought.

What the figures — and the failures — do show is a need for properly funded and staffed social work and child protection services or vulnerable youngsters will fall through the cracks.

It is too much of a gamble to presume parents will always have their youngsters’ best interests at heart and a degree of state supervision is needed.

But as council and health budgets are put under increasing pressure, the Scottish Government’s named person policy is bogged down in bureaucratic uncertainty.

It can only be hoped the CPO statistics are not the tip of a perilous iceberg for vulnerable young children.