The “After Leeways” Report published on March 19th 1987 was the main response of Lewisham Council to the arrest in Dec 1984, charging on 4th Jun 1985 and subsequent imprisonment of Officer in Charge of Leeways Childrens Home, Ronald Cooper for child sex offences. He had worked there for 17 years.
Lewisham Council said it would take them too long to look for it, then they changed their story and now say they do not have it. Various parts of the request has been going on since Jun 2016, and the incompetence, lies and cover up have to be read to be believed – WDTK FOI for Leeways Report [3]. They have been castigated by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) but still they lie and cover up, but more of that in future posts.
Thanks to a whistleblower, disgusted at Lewisham Council, and Daedulus, Operation Greenlight Lewisham [11] the After Leeways Report download is available and in digital searchable format and in two qualities –
After Leeways High Quality 12 MB download [1]
After Leeways Medium Quality 4 MB download [2]
It would be great if someone could do a summary of the Report and indeed put it in context with other Lewisham abuse and reports, as I am not able to at present.
Other Reports and information so far on Lewisham were listed 2017 Jul 11 cathy fox blog [Le4] Summary of Information on Lewishams Child Sexual Abuse Documents [15]
The “After Leeways” Report was submitted to the Social Services Committee on 19th March 1987 and the following people were in charge of various recommendations – Clive Jordan Chair of Social Services Committee, John Thompson Director of Social Services, and Ann Darcy, Richard Dore and Rosemary Evans. I am not sure, without further research that roles and titles the latter three had.
Lewisham Council tried to give the impression that the report could be hidden in amongst other papers or minutes.
“A lot of internal documents were produced post Leeways, and some were
appended to confidential reports. Where we cannot identify the whereabouts
of a particular named document, this would require a manual trawl through
minutes, records and meeting books.
This information is not recorded in a readily accessible form. To retrieve
this information would require manual checks on all such individuals.
We apply Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, “Exemption
where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit”, to this part of your
request.”
Of course this, as with much else that this Lewisham Council says is just nonsense, lies, misinformation or disinformation.
It is an indicator of the inefficiency and incompetence of Lewisham Council that they claimed they need over 18 hours searching to find a file that is 200 pages long, in a large plastic ring binder that is about 30 cm/12″ high, 25cm/ 9 inches wide and 4 cm/ 1 and half inches think. It is also in gray and pink, not easily missed and they should have multiple copies.
Lewisham Council lies or Lewisham Council incompetence and inefficiency in not finding this large report?
Lewisham Council have been and still are delaying and obstructing legitimate Freedom of Information requests and consequently covering up child sexual abuse.
It is a criminal offence under the FOI Act to “alter, block, destroy or conceal information”. I believe that individuals in Lewisham Council are guilty at the least of blocking and concealing information, and so it may be that some individuals have to be reported for this offence.
Please note that victims of abuse may be triggered by reading this information. These links are generally UK based.
- The Sanctuary for the Abused [A] has advice on how to prevent triggers.
- National Association for People Abused in Childhood [B] has a freephone helpline and has links to local support groups.
- One in Four [C]
- Havoca [D].
- Useful post on Triggers [E] from SurvivorsJustice [F] blog.
- Jim Hoppers pages on Mindfulness [G] and Meditation [H] may be useful.
- Hwaairfan blog An Indigenous Australian Approach to Healing Trauma [J]
- Survivors UK for victims and survivors of male rape or the sexual abuse of men [K]
- Voicing CSA group [L] helps arrange survivors meetings in your area
- A Prescription for me blog Various emotional support links [M]
- ShatterBoys -“Male Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse Inspiring change, Through Shared Experience Whilst Building Connections…Together We Can Heal” [N]
- Fresh Start Foundation Scottish not for profit group, helping child sexual abuse victims & survivors [P]
Links
[1] After Leeways High Quality 12 MB 200 pages download https://cathyfox.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/afterleeways-report-best.pdf
[2] After Leeways medium Quality 4 MB 100 pages https://cathyfox.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/afterleeways-report.pdf
[3] 2016 Jun 6 WDTK FOI for Leeways Report https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/leeways_childs_home_17_edward_rd#outgoing-549340
[11] Operation Greenlight Lewisham https://webbrain.com/brainpage/brain/0FE31538-2121-8495-33A5-86073BE95DE1/thought/918#-25
[12] 2017 Jun 19 Cathy Fox Blog [Le1] News Articles on Leeways Childrens Home https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/l1-news-articles-on-leeways-childrens-home/
[13] 2017 Jun 21 cathy fox blog [Le2] Lewisham Council Obstruction of FOI Request https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/l2-lewisham-council-obstruction-of-foi-request/
[14] 2017 Jul 7 Cathy Fox blog [Le3] Lewisham Chief Executives Report https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2017/07/07/le3-lewisham-chief-executives-report/
[15] 2017 Jul 11 cathy fox blog [Le4] Summary of Information on Lewishams Child Sexual Abuse Documents https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/le4-summary-of-information-on-lewishams-child-sexual-abuse-documents/
[16] 2017 Jul 17 cathy fox blog [Le5] Lewisham Council – Whistleblower Documents 1 https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/le5-lewisham-council-whistleblower-documents-1/
[17] 2017 Jul 28 Cathy Fox Blog [Le6] Lewisham Council – Whistleblower Documents 2 – Introduction to Leeways https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/le6-lewisham-council-whistleblower-documents-2-introduction-to-leeways/
[18] Operation Greenlight Category Lewisham https://theneedleblog.wordpress.com/operation-greenlight/london/lewisham/
[19] 1985 Oct 24 The Times Sex fears over head of home ‘ignored’ (24.10.85) via Spotlight on Abuse https://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/sex-fears-over-head-of-home-ignored-24-10-85/
https://cathyfox.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/leeways-response-10-12-85-search.pdf
Social Services Comittee Minutes 2 July 1985 search
The Leeways Inquiry Report search
[A] Sanctuary for the Abused http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/for-survivors-coping-with-triggers-if.html
Let justice be done though the heavens fall – Fiat justitia ruat cælum
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