Security worries shouldn’t stop centralised database

The Government’s plans for a database containing details of every child in Britain could be under threat, following a Deloitte summary report that it could never be thoroughly secure, according to media reports.

Denise Harrison, director of collaborative software specialist, Liquidlogic commented: ‘Whilst it is essential that robust security structures are in place to protect all data held on the UK’s children, we can’t let the latest security failures cloud the need for a centralised view of vulnerable children in the UK.’

“The introduction of a central database is the obvious way of eradicating the problem of multiple case files being opened on a child.

Denise Harrison, director of collaborative software specialist, Liquidlogic

‘In today’s nomadic society, families inevitably move around the country - meaning that the need for the names of vulnerable children to be available across all councils is essential. The introduction of a central database is the obvious way of eradicating the problem of multiple case files being opened on a child, which can leave children vulnerable over a prolonged period of time.’

‘Work to spot the early warning signs of vulnerable children has been in progress at council level for some time. The idea is to ensure that social and care services, schools, and police are safely collaborating over the protection of children in their region. However, this doesn’t address the nomadic culture of today’s families. If we are to take collaboration to the next level, then we need to be confident that we have taken every measure to secure the details of children within this national database. Without a doubt, the Deloitte paper should be opened up for further scrutiny.’