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Cornwall councillor Alex Folkes 'still a risk to children' | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A Cornwall councillor continues to pose a "serious and enduring risk" to children, a review has found. | A Cornwall councillor continues to pose a "serious and enduring risk" to children, a review has found. |
The conclusion comes after Cornwall Council issued a warning last November to schools and clubs in Launceston not to allow Alex Folkes near children. | The conclusion comes after Cornwall Council issued a warning last November to schools and clubs in Launceston not to allow Alex Folkes near children. |
The authority and police have since reviewed information provided by Mr Folkes and said the concern remains. | The authority and police have since reviewed information provided by Mr Folkes and said the concern remains. |
Mr Folkes denied wrongdoing and said he was cleared by police in 2006 after his credit card was cloned. | |
A council spokesman said: "The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) meeting unanimously confirmed the previous judgement that Alex Folkes poses a serious and enduring risk to children." | A council spokesman said: "The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) meeting unanimously confirmed the previous judgement that Alex Folkes poses a serious and enduring risk to children." |
'Secret kangaroo court' | |
The council said the decision to confirm the previous judgment was "supported by additional and extensive information provided by the Metropolitan Police since the original LADO process was held". | |
Mr Folkes stood down from his cabinet position on Cornwall Council in November 2014 but remains as council member for Launceston Central. | Mr Folkes stood down from his cabinet position on Cornwall Council in November 2014 but remains as council member for Launceston Central. |
In a response to the statement on his blog, he condemned the LADO process as a "secret kangaroo court". | |
He said the council had been alerted to a 2006 Metropolitan Police inquiry after his credit card number was linked to a child pornography website. | |
He said: "The council say they have other secret information they can't share with me and which they choose to believe over the documents I have received from the Met and my bank." | |
Mr Folkes said the information he received from the Metropolitan Police stated "categorically, that no indecent images were found on my computer". | |
He said: "If the council believe they have verifiable proof then they have a duty to let me see it and to comment on it." |