All British Authors Are Paedophiles

...or so the government thinks, since it's finally instituted the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

This requires every author visiting a school to have their name placed on a database, to be vetted for suitability and to pay £65 for the privilege. Schools not complying with these requrements will be fined.

And, like all the other database shit set up by this governemnt, allegations will remain on the database even when proved to be untrue.

Philip Pullman and other notable children's authors, are refusing to sign up:

Mr Pullman, who stressed he had a "non-existent" criminal record, said he was prepared to give up speaking in schools to make a stand against Britain's creeping surveillance culture.

He said: "It is insulting and I think unnecessary, and I refuse to be complicit in any scheme that assumes my guilt."

Mr Pullman is being supported by several other children's authors including Anne Fine, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo and Guentin Blake, who object to their names being on the database.

If the police involved in the Huntley murder case back in 2002 had done their job properly - and with the information they already had - then this ridiculous, draconian system would not have been set up.

Britain's Obsession With Child Abuse

Child abuse in any form is obviously a despicable thing, but the country's obsession with paedophiles is not only disturbing but dangerous. It provides the state with one more excuse to introduce laws and regulations while pretending it's actually doing something useful. There's nothing like stirring up suspicion and hatred to keep the masses occupied.

Two recent items:

Details of paedophiles to be made available in certain areas. If you're a parent and think someone you've met may have been convicted of sex offences, then you can find out. But you're not supposed to tell anyone else. I can see that one working.

Hertfordshire County Council's Allegations Management System. The council will record and keep on record (apparently for ever) details of ALLEGATIONS made about anyone working in child care. Covered by The Telegraph here. Which leads (of course) to the government (and another quango with powers over us all), The Independent Safeguarding Authority. One more case of guilty until proven innocent. Or, still sort of guilty even after you've been proved innocent.