Show seeks to help child abuse victims

Press, 16 August 1988, Page 19

Show seeks to help child abuse victims

Television One’s monthly show “Crimewatch” becomes “Childwatch,” tonight, and switches from crime-solv-ing to helping youngsters affected by physical or sexual violence.

"A number of the crimes dealt with by the ‘Crimewatch’ team over the past year have involved young children,” says the producer, Michael Scott-Smith, “and it seemed sensible, at a time when there’s high national awareness of the problem after ‘Telethon,’ to devote one edition of the programme to it.”

“Childwatch” will follow the “Crimewatch” format, with the same confidential toll-free phone line, reconstructions, case histories and information desk. Instead of police officers joining presenters lan Johnstone and Natalie Brunt in the studio, there will be family counsellors and other professionals experienced in the area of child abuse.

Manning the information desk and providing statistical data, names and contacts of the various aid

agencies, and brief rundowns on the symptoms of child abuse, will be “What Now’s “Michele A’Court. “And the confidential phone line — no callers need to identify themselves — will obviously not have the same purpose for ’Childwatch’,” says Scott-Smith. “Instead of the public being stimulated to ring in and help solve crimes, those people who are themselves subject to abuse or aware of children who need help can phone in for advice.

“The ‘Childwatch’ counsellors and volunteers will not deal with the matters themselves but pass the callers on to the appropriate agencies.”

The first half of “Childwatch” will deal with physical abuse, the second will be devoted to the problem of sexual violence.

“After setting the scene by spelling out the legal rights of children,” says lan Johnstone, “we will show four or five reconstructions, taken from authentic cases, to establish what’s normal and abnormal in regard to dealing with children. Ob-

viously all parents have flashpoints and lose their tempers with their offspring, but just when does the problem become a chronic one?”

From this one-off type situation “Childwatch” will step up to persistent physical abuse. “As well as reconstructions we will talk to victims about their experiences,” says Johnstone. “The idea being to encourage those caught in violent situtions to ask for help — to bite the bullet and break out of it. A message of hope if you like.” The second half of “Childwatch” begins with a look at the difficulties of reporting sexual abuse and looks at what is being done in the community with regard to stranger danger. “Then we go on to the sad, disturbing fact that stranger danger is the minor threat,” says Johnstone. “Most sexual abuse takes place in the home, and is committed by an adult, usually a parent with whom the child has a loving relationship.”

“Childwatch” screens at 8 on One tonight.