Deputy Mike Higgins questioned Children’s Minister Sam Mézec during yesterday’s States sitting, saying that staff in Children’s Services had subsequently ‘threatened’ parents by saying their recordings breached data-protection laws.
Senator Mézec said he was aware of at least one instance where mistakes had been made in records and said anyone affected should be given an apology.
Speaking during questions without notice, Deputy Higgins said: ‘Some clients of Children’s Services are taping all interactions as a result of false entries in records regarding children in care, and then being threatened with data-protection laws regarding breaches.’
Senator Mézec said that he did not think that officials should be threatening people regarding possible breaches of the law.
‘There has been at least one instance where mistakes have been made,’ he said. ‘I’m aware of concerns and have raised these with officers.’
Deputy Higgins, who has represented St Helier District No 3 since 2008, asked if the minister would allow Islanders to have access to their records in order to have the opportunity to challenge errors and omissions.
Senator Mézec said: ‘There have been difficulties in record-keeping, and there have been some wrong entries. Where there has been misinformation, then people should be apologised to, and I would want mistakes to be corrected.’
The raising of the topic by Deputy Higgins drew support from Cheyenne O’Connor, who has campaigned for the rights of children and parents in addition to her work to expose paedophiles who prey on young victims.
Ms O’Connor said there were many occasions, with many different people, when Children’s Services had recorded a version of events that was at odds with the recollection of clients.
‘Without recording, who are people going to believe – Children’s Services, or a kid on the street?’ she said. ‘Taping a conversation is perfectly legal, but I think Children’s Services are using data protection as an excuse because they would prefer that people didn’t make recordings.’
