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| Pembrokeshire pupil abuse row: Cover-up over padded 'time out' rooms denied | Pembrokeshire pupil abuse row: Cover-up over padded 'time out' rooms denied |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The leader of Pembrokeshire council has said there has been no cover-up over claims some school pupils were locked in padded "time out" rooms. | The leader of Pembrokeshire council has said there has been no cover-up over claims some school pupils were locked in padded "time out" rooms. |
| His comments come as a controversy over alleged child protection failings in the west Wales county deepen. | His comments come as a controversy over alleged child protection failings in the west Wales county deepen. |
| In September last year, the Welsh government sent a panel of experts into the authority after problems were highlighted. | In September last year, the Welsh government sent a panel of experts into the authority after problems were highlighted. |
| Among them were children being locked in rooms and of one's hands being tied. | Among them were children being locked in rooms and of one's hands being tied. |
| Speaking on Thursday, Pembrokeshire council leader Jamie Adams - who has only been in the job for a matter of weeks - said any official found responsible for any failures would be held "fully accountable". | Speaking on Thursday, Pembrokeshire council leader Jamie Adams - who has only been in the job for a matter of weeks - said any official found responsible for any failures would be held "fully accountable". |
| This week, Dyfed-Powys Police have been passed material by the council as the row over child protection failings deepened. | This week, Dyfed-Powys Police have been passed material by the council as the row over child protection failings deepened. |
| It follows the issuing of a final warning from a minister in the Welsh government who felt more should be done by the authority to react to abuse claims. | |
| In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Mr Adams pledged to "get to the bottom" of child protection failings in the county. | In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Mr Adams pledged to "get to the bottom" of child protection failings in the county. |
| He backed his top officials after they were criticised for the handling of the allegations. | He backed his top officials after they were criticised for the handling of the allegations. |
| There are claims that some children were locked in padded "time out" rooms. | There are claims that some children were locked in padded "time out" rooms. |
| But Mr Adams said there was no evidence of children being held in locked rooms since 2009 adding that those allegations were being investigated. | But Mr Adams said there was no evidence of children being held in locked rooms since 2009 adding that those allegations were being investigated. |
| "I have extensively conducted interviews with many officers and further within the council and that is the position that I am able to ascertain," he said. | "I have extensively conducted interviews with many officers and further within the council and that is the position that I am able to ascertain," he said. |
| "I have not been presented with any evidence from anyone outside the council that any such action has been undertaken since that time either." | "I have not been presented with any evidence from anyone outside the council that any such action has been undertaken since that time either." |
| On Wednesday evening, Pembrokeshire council confirmed it had given new information to police as part of ongoing investigations into child abuse. | On Wednesday evening, Pembrokeshire council confirmed it had given new information to police as part of ongoing investigations into child abuse. |
| Earlier this week as the controversy deepened, a father claimed his six-year-old son had his hands tied behind his back in class by a teacher. | Earlier this week as the controversy deepened, a father claimed his six-year-old son had his hands tied behind his back in class by a teacher. |
| Mr Adams said he had concerns about the allegation. He said: "I would never advocate any action that resulted in a child being tied up." | Mr Adams said he had concerns about the allegation. He said: "I would never advocate any action that resulted in a child being tied up." |
| The Welsh government has called the safeguarding of children "absolutely paramount" and said, following a meeting with Mr Adams on Wednesday, that serious questions remained about events and the council's response. | The Welsh government has called the safeguarding of children "absolutely paramount" and said, following a meeting with Mr Adams on Wednesday, that serious questions remained about events and the council's response. |
| Mr Adams said: "There is an acceptance that the procedures and policies we had in place were not sufficiently robust to ensure a framework which allowed the safeguarding agenda to be held in confidence. | Mr Adams said: "There is an acceptance that the procedures and policies we had in place were not sufficiently robust to ensure a framework which allowed the safeguarding agenda to be held in confidence. |
| "We have done a great deal of work in that regard, from senior officers to front-line staff. | "We have done a great deal of work in that regard, from senior officers to front-line staff. |
| "That work is ongoing. I have described it as a journey. However, we're nowhere near the end of that journey, I understand that." | "That work is ongoing. I have described it as a journey. However, we're nowhere near the end of that journey, I understand that." |
| He said he was able to assure ministers that good procedures were now being "firmly embedded" by the local authority. | He said he was able to assure ministers that good procedures were now being "firmly embedded" by the local authority. |
| The Welsh government stepped in last year when inquiries by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales and schools inspectors Estyn warned about failures. | The Welsh government stepped in last year when inquiries by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales and schools inspectors Estyn warned about failures. |
| It appointed a panel of experts to oversee the council's procedures. | It appointed a panel of experts to oversee the council's procedures. |
| Ministers are now considering giving the chair of the board - retired judge Graham Jones - the power to issue instructions so the authority meets its duties. | Ministers are now considering giving the chair of the board - retired judge Graham Jones - the power to issue instructions so the authority meets its duties. |
| He said: "There was no attempt to mislead as far as I can ascertain." | He said: "There was no attempt to mislead as far as I can ascertain." |