ENGLAND CHILDREN IN A DATA BASE DIRECTORY

From The Press Association: January 25, 2009.

A controversial database containing details of every child in England is to be rolled out to ensure "faster contact" between doctors, social workers and police if they suspect a child is at risk. Skip related content

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ContactPoint, a £224 million directory, will contain the name, address, date of birth, GP and school of all under-18s - as well as the name and contact details of any professional working with that child.

The database was set up in response to a key recommendation of the Laming Inquiry into the tragic death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie in 2000.

But the project has been subject to several delays due to concerns over data security and technical issues. It has also attracted controversy from the outset, with civil liberties groups, children's campaigners and the Office of the Information Commissioner expressing concerns about its scope and role.

The database has been devised to help professionals to share information on young people so that children do not fall into gaps between different services.

No case information will be held on ContactPoint and it will be impossible to download its contents.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls said it would help those who work with children to "prevent problems escalating". He said recent cases had shown that a lack of "proper and timely information sharing" could have tragic consequences.

Under current arrangements, if a professional believes a child is at risk there is no immediate way of knowing whether other services are already in contact with that child.

Mr Balls said: "It is good news, that after very careful planning, we can now actively start to deliver Lord Laming's crucial recommendation from the Victoria Climbie Inquiry.

"ContactPoint will help those who work with children to intervene earlier and prevent problems escalating and will help make sure no child slips through the net of support services. This is how we can improve the well-being of all children, young people and families, and help protect children who may be at risk."