Town park staff to quiz adults

Council staff on the lookout for paedophiles have been ordered to stop and quiz any adults found walking in Telford Town Park without a child, it was revealed today.

Anyone who wants to go to the park but is not accompanied by at least one youngster will have to explain why they are there.

Telford campaigners battling to retain full public access to the park today branded the policy “draconian” and “authoritarian madness” but the council defended the policy, claiming it had a responsibility to “protect the vulnerable”.

Read the full story in today’s Shropshire Star.


Revealed today, what a load of flippin rubish, we've discused this after they put it in a letter

A copy of he letter a previously discussed

Dated 21st August 2008

Dear Mr.Evans,

I am writing in response to your communication with the chief Executives Office. This is about your comments on the recent articles within the Shropshire Star covering the distribution of leaflets within the Telford Town Park.

The council has a duty of care to ensure it offers a safe, secure, happy and exciting environment in such places as the very popular Town Park. The Council has developed and adopted a comprehensive Child Protection Policy and Procedures that were drawn up in accordance with the guidance “Working Together to Safeguarding Children” 1999, Child Protection Procedures of the Local Area Child Protection Committee and with support of the NSPCC.

From our previous correspondence with you, you will be aware that our town park Staff approach adults that are not associated with any children in the Town Park and request the reason for them being there. In particular, this applies to those areas where children or more vulnerable groups gather, such as play facilities and the entrances to play areas. This is a child safety precautionary measure which members of our staff will continue to undertake as and when necessary.

In the case of distributing leaflets in the Town Park, we ask that individuals or organisations wishing to do so request permission by completing an application form and supplying us with necessary supplementary documentation. This information will give us, as Land owners, the reassurance that the activities requested by outside groups will not compromise our duty of care to young people and the more vulnerable.

In the article reported in the Shropshire Star relating to the individuals wishing to distribute leaflets our Town Park, the Town Park Manager explained our procedures and offered them the necessary forms. This is consistent with our usual practice and I am satisfied the officer was correct in her actions.

I make no apologies for putting the safety of our children and young people first. Unfortunately there are people at large in our society who are unable to be trusted in this context and we have had unfortunate incidents in the Town Park which we have had to deal with very sensitively. If this means that we have then to take precautions which some people feel are “over the top”, then so be it. We would prefer in these instances to be as safe as possible beforehand, rather than sorry afterwards.

I hope you are with my response, however if you would like to discuss this further, then either contact Town park Manager, on 01952 382340, or myself on 01952 382328

Yours Sincerely


Sport & Recreation Manager

This is getting bloody silly! What next - kids offering themselves for hire to accompany adults through the Park?

I heard this morning that one of the organisers of a sponsored bike ride in support of the Severn Hospice the other Sunday was stopped by a council officer and told that they should dismount when travelling through the Park!!

This was on a cycle path, which is part of the National Cycle Network.....

.....coming next - horseriders using bridlepaths told they must carry their mounts - babies thrown out of pushchairs?

I've been in the Town Park and watched a CSO ona bike riding through it.

This is scaremongering on an industrial scale.

What next? Single shoppers in the shopping centre interogated because they are in an area used by children, do singletons have to dive into the first shop they see to make a purchase just to prove they are there for legitimate reasons? Who's to say that peodophiles don't hang about in pairs anyway?

What if a single person was to refuse to answer park staff? Would police be called and could they be arrested on suspicion or enjoying the park unnaccompanied....where does it all stop? If T and W have their way, no-one single will be able to leave their own property unless being interogated.

I now invite every adult who is offended by this policy to join me in the Town Park on Saturday 13th September at 10.30am, starting at the Arena, in a display to show our discontent at this ridiculous policy that clearly discriminates against lone adults.

As we are not allowed to hand out leaflets, I for one will be wearing a board to display my grave concern at this policy and I am prepared to go it alone if needed.
I agree with child safety, I don’t agree with giving perverts the right of access as they have just done.

Any perve will now only go accompanied with a child, creating a honey trap, but safe in knowledge they are not being watched.

Excellent points are raised in these contributions,not least Dawley Mon on the issue as to what defines a paedophile and where does this over-reaction lead us.Does everyone alone without children on our streets or delivering leaflets to homes come under suspicion?.

I have been recorded by the radio this evening with particular reference to the councils letter dealing with the paragraphs about protection in the play areas while being less interested in the wider park issue.It seems that councillor Allens citing the guidance in "Working together to Safeguarding Children 1999,etc" is being interpreted as law which it is not.

The writing of the paragraphs in question is sloppy and appears to be a catch all.At one point it declares that staff approach anyone in the park not associated with children.Then in the same para it says "precautionary measures undertaken as and when necessary". So the council seeks to have it both ways.To say the least this is confusing.

I SUSPECT THE ISSUE OF THE PLAY AREAS WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE ,WHILE THE WIDER ISSUES ARE PLAYED DOWN. THIS WILL BE THE COUNCILS LINE AND THE PRESS MAY ACCEPT THIS.THUS THE COUNCIL HAVING A FEST IN THE PARK WITHOUT POLICE CHECKS AND DOCUMENTATION WELL IN ADVANCE FOR EVERY ADULT TAKING PART WILL NOT COME INTO FOCUS.COBBLER

Remember Cobbler - in a world gone mad the slightly obsessive or disturbed man is King!!!

The phrase "can't see the wood for the trees" springs to mind here - start assuming everyone is a kiddie fiddler and you're going to miss the real paedophiles.

HOOP, what's the chances of printing a few of these on cardboard?



It's the flag of the British Unions of Fascists with the TWC logo superimposed.

I'd rather not - we can't afford to take a press out of use for the length of time it would take to decontaminate it after printing something like that...

Don't worry - I've got a more wholesome but equally effective idea!