Children: Over Surveilled, Under Protected

A half day conference to be held at

the London School of Economics

27 June 2006

2.00 p.m - 5.00 p.m

Programme and links to presentations made at the confererence

The government is introducing radical changes in children’s services aimed at improving early identification and intervention with children thought to be at risk of failing to reach their potential – the policy set out in their 2003 discussion paper: Every Child Matters. They place a particular emphasis on identifying children who might become delinquent or achieve poorly at school. As part of this policy, several databases are being set up which will contain extensive personal information about children and their families. These databases are intended to help professionals share information amongst themselves and judge whether or not a child is showing any cause for concern requiring professional help. The amount of data collected will radically alter the privacy of family life and many concerns have been raised about the potential harmful effects of such large-scale surveillance.

Aims of the Conference

• To clarify the distinction between ‘child protection’ and the new policy of ‘safeguarding children'.
• To detail the range of databases being established and the quality of data being collected.
• To examine the evidence for government policy.
• To raise concerns that the degree of surveillance being introduced could have harmful effects.

This conference is a follow up to Tracking Children conference held at LSE in April 2004.

The confererence will be held in the Hong Kong Theatre in the Clement House Building of LSE. Clement House is in the Strand, opposite St Clement's Church. How to find LSE

Programme and links to presentations made at the confererence