LETTER: Abuse scandal: when child care is tangled in red tape

Sir: It is not only in residential homes that abusers are active ("Paedophiles `control children's homes' ", 22 April). Adverts for holiday playscheme staff attract replies which get no further once we ask people to sign the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act form. This is all we can do since the Crown Prosecution Service is so reluctant to prosecute because of the belief that people with learning disabilities will not be able to give evidence in court, either as a witness or victim.

Incidentally, Makaton sign language has no sign for "abuse".

Pam Hannam

Honorary Secretary

Mencap

Bristol