11/08/2011 BBC Wales Today

Long-standing angst systemic failings in the way Pembrokeshire

council deals with child abuse allegations. Details of a damning

Also on the programme: the Welsh Secretary joins officers from Wales

drafted in to help police the streets of London.

How did classified government documents end up in this hedge in

Pembrokeshire? You hear about these things

happening all the time but I couldn't understand how it got

there. Back in the team. Gavin Henson

given the chance to claim a World Cup place.

And Premier League press for Swansea City as they prepare for

Good evening. Pembrokeshire council has been heavily criticised over

the way it deals with allegations of abuse against children. A

scathing report says the shortcomings are up long-standing

and systemic. It says the abuse wasn't effectively dealt with and

that in some cases, the recommendations of the police and

social services were ignored. In some instances, the report says,

the previous good record of staff outweighed the duty to protect

children. Our correspondent is in Pembrokeshire tonight.

How did this report come about? What instigated this investigation,

really, was a case back in 2009. That of David Thorley, a head

teacher in Pembrokeshire. He was jailed for two years for nine

counts of sexually assaulting girls in his care. Following that, the

bodies investigating looked at 25 cases of alleged professional abuse

between 2007 and 2011. They found three cases of potential immediate

risk of harm to children. It is within those three cases that they

found this catalogue of failure, as they call it, saying there is a

lack of oversight, not only by officials but also those at the

very top. The report also says that at times, it seems that the

reputation of the local authority was more important than

safeguarding the need of children. A very damning report in terms of

those three elements. What is the very act -- what is the

reaction? We have heard from the Welsh

government. They have said it is completely unacceptable. There was

a lack of failure to instigate the most basic of needs for the council

and the minister with responsibility has been strongly

critical of what has been happening in Pembrokeshire.

This is the failure of delivery. We don't need any more policies,

guidance, inspectors or regulations. We have got all of that in place.

It is a matter for Pembrokeshire to deliver safe services to its

citizens, including children and young people.

We will get some more reaction. I am joined by John Davies, the

leader of Pembrokeshire Council. The first question is, given this

catalogue of failure highlighted in this report, how did you not know

exactly what was going on? It is important we first expressed

her disappointment and dismay in this report and there is work for

us to do, as elected members, across the board. We recognise the

duty that we now have and the obligation, regarding to

safeguarding the young people of done that share. The fact remains,

as you quite rightly say, it is a matter of dealing not just with the

25 but the 18,000 pupils through our schools and various

institutions. It captures 25 cases over four years, of which three

have been thoroughly investigations once more.

Winner of the Welsh government will be putting in place and external

team to make sure that they implement any changes that are

needed. What kind of changes are needed to make sure this thing

doesn't happen again? We need to instil reassurance in

people that Pembrokeshire is a safe place to live and learn and that is

why people became aware of this in July and that is when we instigated

an improvement board. That has been embraced, as well, by the minister.

We welcome the additional individuals she has identified two

work parallel to that, to make sure that the agenda of dealing with

safeguarding remains paramount and that the top of our priority list.

If parents are concerned, what can you do to reassure them?

The first application of reassurance is about allowing

people access to providing us with information and being able to give

them information. We have established today hot line to allow

people to have that dialogue with us. And also with regards to

reassure people that children in a better have not come to any harm.

The report applies to the potential of harm, rather than actual harm.

That is what we are saying. John Davies, Thank you. Some

serious concerns raised but the council determined to get to grips

with the issues. The Prime Minister has praised the

role of police officers from Wales in helping to control and rest in

London. David Cameron said the Welsh forces had offered great

support for the Metropolitan Police, but he rejected calls to scrap

planned cuts in police numbers here. Eight people here have been

arrested on suspicion of using social networking sites to incite

criminal behaviour. Our parliamentary correspondent reports.

On the beat in Peckham. The Secretary of State for Wales joined

officers from Welsh forces helping to police a part of London hit by

an arrest. Officers from raised -- officers have been praised for

bringing calm to the police. I think it is very impressive.

Wales may have escaped the riots but there have been eight arrests

across the country of people suspected of using social

networking fights to incite criminal behaviour after the riots

in England. A new phenomenon the police have to deal with.

If you are inciting, for example, a serious offence, you could face the

same range of penalties as the perpetrator of that offence. In

this situation it is unlikely that will happen because I think the

police and the prosecuting authorities will have difficulty

but evidence. In Westminster, it was back to work

for Welsh MPs. An emergency recall of Parliament. A chance to put the

prime minister on the spot. Does the Prime Minister realise

that in times of economic downturn, inquisitive crime increases. The

difference is that -- the difference this week was that it

was backed up by extreme violence perpetrated by mobs. Can you

reconsider the cuts to police budget? You will be seen as giving

in to common sense. David Cameron disputed the link and

said responsibility lay with criminals.

Let me take this responsibility to pay tribute to the Welsh police

officers that gave great support to police forces across England.

That didn't satisfy opposition MPs. He commends Welsh police forces for

sending people down to London but in the next four years, we will

have 1,200 fewer officers in Wales and it will be more difficult for

us to help you out. Among the 16,000 police in London,

Special Constable David Davies. He said police are afraid to use

physical force. When the Prime Minister says we

will be robust and do whatever it takes, can he reassure us that

members of this house will support the police if they have destroyed

people with batons? Force has to make -- force has to be met with

force. The prime minister agreed with the

Welsh Liberal-Democrat that any inquiry should look at the success

of cities such as Cardiff in preventing disorder.

David is at Westminster, where the debate is coming on.

I can tell you that two men from South Wales have been charged with

inciting violent behaviour and will appear in court in Cardiff tomorrow.

Here, the debate goes on. With me, one of those MPs who we heard

earlier. David Davies. He is also a special constable. You were out on

the streets in your volunteer police officer role last night. How

was the atmosphere? It was a strange atmosphere I have

not experienced before. A lot of fear and many members of the public

were scared. They were scared to walk the streets and asking us what

was going on. There was a lot of attention when we spotted 50 masked

youth who were behaving in a fairly unpleasant fashion. Fortunately,

that incident didn't get violent. A strange atmosphere with sirens

going off everywhere. We saw armoured vehicles that I have never

seen before going past us. It is not a site when it expects in

London. You talk about the need for force

to be met with greater force by police, isn't that given to

legitimise police brutality? It is not. To my mind, there is a

difference between the brutality demonstrated on the streets against

property and individuals that we have seen far too much of, and

alarming the police to use force in it order to deal with it.

Were you happy with the prime minister's response?

I was. Officers have said to me, it is all very well saying that but

will we get that support, if we strike somebody with a baton, are

we going to be supported? I have heard MP's complaint in the past

when police have used batons fought Catling people.

-- or if they cattle people. The debate has been extended by an

hour. Over to the studio. The funeral of a 12-year-old boy

who died after being hit by falling goalposts took place today. Casey

Breese had been playing with his friends on a football pitch in

Caersws in Powys when the posts fell on him. An investigation is

ongoing. A mother from Newport is calling

for the Ministry of Defence to change the way it deals with

children whose parents are not together. Paula Black only

discovered that her former partner, her daughter's father, died while

serving with the armed forces when she read tributes on a website.

Nicola Smith reports. These photos were taken the first

time Lance Corporal Richard Gotts met his daughter, Tegan. She was

four months old and he had been serving in Iraq. Just over one year

later, in 2007, he had a heart attack. By then, the couple had

split up and it meant that Paul Esser discovered he died on the

internet. I was distraught. I was angry that

I was not notified in person. Richard has two ex-wives and they

were both motivate -- notified by an MoD official. I was sat at my

computer desk with my child by him as well. We were not notified and

we read about it on a forum. It all comes down to paperwork.

Lance Corporal Richard Gotts had not named Tegan as next of kin. He

paid child support for his army salary but the rules mean that

legally that is not enough. In a statement, the MoD told us that it

statement, the MoD told us that it goes to considerable lengths to

ensure that the next of kin and any additional person previously

nominated by the deceased are But that didn't happen in Paula's

case. She set up a support group to ensure that servicemen and women

and their families think about who they want contacted if they die.

She is urging the MoD to look again at their policy.

I want them to be more lenient when it comes to families like ourselves.

Single parents. Those children to should be treated the same. I am

hoping fierce campaign I am going to start will do that. If I have to

go to Parliament, I will direct. Four years on and a teddy that

Tegan gave to her father and medals are the only memory she has of him.

Her mother hopes that her campaign means that other unmarried parents

went learn of their personal Douglas Young is in our infamous

Studio. A desert this process need looking at again?

We are completely independent of the Ministry of Defence but I have

year to what that Lady a said with a very great sympathy. I offer my

condolences on her family's loss. It is a very distressing situation.

As was said earlier, the Ministry of Defence does go to very great

lengths to get this rare -- to get this right and to inform the next

of kin and any additional person who is nominated by the serviceman

or service woman. In this case, it seems that no additional nomination

had been made. I am not quite sure what the Ministry of Defence could

or should do in the situation that has been described. People in the

armed forces should meet their responsibilities, just like anybody

else. Equally, they are entitled to their private lives. There is a

limit to how much the Ministry of Defence can interfere with the bat.

I know it is suggested that they are quite old fashioned in their

approach but they do recognise civil partners and unmarried

partners in a particular situations. They do try to keep their but this

is a very important system which I think we tinker with at our peril.

Having said that, I think that Lady has drawn attention to a very

important issue. People in the armed forces should be aware of it.

In our organisation, we frequently remind our members about the

importance of making a proper Wales and thinking about what happens in

the event of their death. We are happy to mention it to people the

situation she has described. If she would like to get in touch with me

through our website, if she would like, we can mention her campaign

in the website. It is an issue people need to think about. I am

not quite sure what the Ministry of Defence really can do about this

more than what they are doing at This is BBC Wales Today. Still to

come before 7:00pm: Gatland brings back Henson and Hook

as he looks to avenge last week's defeat to England.

And meeting their Premier League heroes. Swansea fans and players

The Welsh Government is investigating after official

documents were found in a hedge in Pembrokeshire. The papers were

found in a flowerbed in Eglwyswrw and contained details of payments

adding up to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

This lady was walking back from church when she spotted the

official-looking envelope in this flowerbed outside her home. She

became even more curious when she saw it was marked government mail.

I could see that it was government papers. There were bank details in

it. I thought it was not right they should be lying around anywhere.

How much of a concern was it to you that restricted government

documents can end up in a hedge? was concerned, but I shiver of

these things happening all the time. But I could not understand was how

which got there. I could see people's names and addresses in it

and I did not think it should be she. I thought people should be

made aware of it. Inside the envelope were documents marked

restricted. There is now a cause for the way sensitive documents are

transported to be assessed. It is important that the Welsh government

to reduce its processes in terms of how which delivers confidential

documents from one office to another. The nearest town is

Fishguard. To give you an idea of how far off this on for low pass

from its final destination, it was sent from 90 miles away. It was

meant to end up at a place around 130 miles from here. How it ended

up here is a mystery. The Welsh Government say government may it is

used to deliver post internally between various Welsh and UK

offices. They did they take the security of information very

seriously and inquiries are continuing.

A Wales team to face England now. Gavin Henson is one of four new

faces in the side to face England this Saturday. James Hook fills the

number 15 jersey. There are two changes but no room in the squad

for Adam Jones, Lee Byrne and Leigh Halfpenny.

Usually after a defeat to England, Wales will have to wait at least 12

months to get a chance to get their own back. Not so this year. A week

after the Twickenham heartbreak, Martin Johnson's men will enter the

stadium to face a side intent on revenge. It does not get bigger for

a Welsh rugby player. It is the ultimate. Hopefully it will be a

full house. We will have a full Welsh side behind us. But it is a

special occasion. I do not think anything comes near to comparing

with this. The Warren Gatland has made four changes from last week,

saying it is important to maintain continuity. The most talked-about

will be the inclusion of this man. Although his latest reality TV

venture is due to start next week, Gavin Henson will be in the

starting line-out for the first time in two years. He is one of two

changes in the backs. The half- backs remain the same. Rhys

Priestland has been given another opportunity at fly-half. In the

pack, Lloyd Burns starts as hooker ahead of Hugh Bennett. Luke

Charteris gets his chance in the second row alongside Alun Wyn Jones.

In the past, warm-up matches have been seen as an opportunity to

tinker with home performances. But Warren Gatland insists that nothing

less than a win will do. We need to be a serious contenders in this

World Cup. We need to send up -- send out a message that we can beat

England at home. We need to build some confidence and send a message

to other nations that we are capable of doing well in this World

Cup. England have made 13 changes to their side. They can still boast

a number of World Cup winners and their ranks. There is a third warm-

up against Argentina next week but for many of these players, this

could be their last chance to press their claims for a World Cup place.

It looks as if Swansea City's first match in the Premier League will go

ahead as planned on Monday. They had been fears that the game could

be postponed after rioting in the City this week. Premier League

bosses have given the game the green light for the Swans can focus

on making their debut. Three days before a ball is kicked

and already the party has started. Swansea City players joined

supporters at this afternoon at an event to help celebrate the club's

achievement of reaching the Premier League. They really deserve being

in the Premier League. We are enjoying the party. But it is nice

to have a Welsh team in the Premiership. It is all good.

Swansea's players trained this morning, getting themselves ready

for Monday's match. For many, it will be their first taste of the

Premier League. The manager has spent some of his promotion

windfall on players with previous experience. It has been my dream to

get a chance in the Premier League. It has come with Swansea, who want

a great side. I am excited for me and also for the team. If you want

an example of how life for Swansea City has changed, just look at this

room. Up until May, their weekly press conference was populated by

just a handful of journalists. Now the room is full with journalists

from outside of Wales. It is my first time in Swansea. It is a

lovely place to come. The club have got great supporters. I would much

rather have that kind of team than one of that the familiar faces in

the Premier League. You probably know for I am talking about. They

do not have the fan base of the tradition and maybe not even the to

to -- the location you have got here. There has been a question

mark over whether the match would go ahead in the wake of the riots.

Tottenham's game on Saturday has been postponed on police advice but

tonight, the Premier League said the other games, including

Swansea's match would go ahead. Swansea's first taste of the big

time will be on Monday. Their opponents, the richest club on the

planet. We will be live from Manchester City's ground to bring

you all the build-up. Can they caused a huge upset on near -- on

their first outing in the Premier League?

The Wales manager Gary Speed was disappointed with his side's defeat

to Australia last night. The Socceroos run out winners. Darcy

Blake grabbed a late consolation goal. We need to do a lot of work.

A performance tonight shows that. We did not think we had so much to

do. By need to give everyone a kick up the backside. We need to knuckle

down and improve. It shows that you have got to stay in the game. If

you play poorly, stay in the game. We finished strong. If you are two-

kneel down, it is difficult to get back.

Wrexham manager Dean Saunders say the players and staff have been

overwhelmed by the money the fans have donated. The Dragons face

Cambridge on Saturday. We cannot let the supporters down. We have

got to go right. Although one defeats for us to go out and play

with enthusiasm and the same desire they have got. That is all I ask

for from my players. Play with desire and enthusiasm and work your

socks off. Swansea's players trained in the

rain stay. Not great weather. Any We are in for a damp night. It is

not a great evening. The show was will start to fizzle out and

overnight will become tried for many of us. Temperatures are on the

murky side. Reaching highs of 16 Celsius. The wings are a largely

light. The pressure chart for tomorrow shows an area of low

pressure in the Atlantic. Yet again tomorrow, we are in for a miserable

start. A lot of cloud and fog. Some showers first thing. By the

afternoon, merging into longer spells of rain. Not a good

afternoon. Still feeling warm and humid but rather miserable. In the

evening, we will see some brighter spells developing but in the

overnight period, we would see another front pushing in from the

West which will bring persistent rain. It is light in nature and we

are in for another midnight tomorrow night. Temperatures at the

lowest, 14 Celsius. Saturday morning will start off on the

miserable side but as we go into the afternoon, it will start to

improve. We will see some brighter conditions. The odd shower, but the

best of the bright nurse across part of Pembrokeshire. Quite breezy

conditions along the coast. Sunday is the best day of the weekend. The

more chance of sunshine. It is The main headlines from the BBC:

MPs are sitting in an emergency session after the worst riots on

England's Straits for decades. The Prime Minister pledged to do

whatever it takes to restore law and order.

The criminals who have taken what they can get, I say this to them,

we will track you down, we will find you, we will punish you. You

will pay for what you have done. A report has found that

Pembrokeshire County Council failed to properly safeguard children in

its schools. The inquiry was triggered after a primary school

head was convicted of abuse. Pembrokeshire County Council says

it is working tirelessly to ensure children are safe.