I'm sorry that Anthony Browne does not seem to agree with Philip Pullman's views on the new vetting scheme. Why is it that today that all adults' interactions with children are viewed with suspicion by "the authorities"?

Philip Pullman states that he is not a paedophile but "the authorities" vetting procedures seem to assume that a man who writes books for childen and is happy to admit that he enjoys the company of children, is, at least, a little suspect.

This is the outrageous aspect of the whole issue of the measures "the authorities" are now taking over child protection.

I am a father of three grown up children and about to be a grandfather for the first time. Recently, I was in the front garden when I heard a noise in the street and then a scream. I ran out to find a young girl of about 11, tangled up with her bicycle on the footpath with scrubbed knees and elbows, sobbing.

I hesitated, she obviously needed help but, because "the authorities" and their "thought police", the tabloid media, had over the years made me question my own motives regarding my interaction with children, I wondered how my actions might be viewed.

It only took a second for my "normal" human reaction to kick in. I picked her up and tried to comfort her. Luckily my wife was in the house, so I told the girl that she would be able to help. The girl, still sobbing let me take her into the kitchen, where my wife, cleaned her cuts. We gave her a drink and I put her bicycle in my car and took her home. Her parents were very grateful that we had helped their child.

I believe that if we allow "the authorities" to continue alienating adults from the world of children, our children could be placed in more danger. How many adults already think twice about approaching children, even if they think a child might be in difficulties?

The Jamie Bolger case highlighted the fact that many adults had seen the child in obvious distress, but decided to do nothing.

I do not blame "the authorities" for this. The blame should be with the Anthony Brownes of our society, who seem to assume that "the authorities" know best.

Our children need to be protected from paedophiles, whose crimes are abborent to all "normal" people. Paedophiles may look like "normal" people but why do "the authorities" pursue policies that suggest that all "normal" people might be out to harm our children.

Philip Pullman is not asking for authors to be a special case. He is merely highlighting the very disturbing trend that, according to "the authorities", we are all potential paedophiles.

When "the authorities" get their way and have vetted the 12 million people who have any contact with children and "encouraged" the 50 million other citizens not to have any contact with children, will our children be safer? I do not think so.

Posted by Alan Twiddle <alantwiddle@yahoo.co.uk> at 12:14PM Saturday 18 Jul 2009
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