THE recent revelations of child abuse in some children's homes reveals sexual and physical abuse on a systematic level, sometimes supported by networks of individuals whose prime duty was the care of these vulnerable minors.

Most horrifying are the allegations that some of this abuse was ignored or encouraged by the very people who had the task of investigating such matters.

I was in three children’s homes in Derbyshire during the 1950s and 1960s and so have some idea of the vulnerability of such children, many of whom were already emotionally damaged by being taken into care. I did not witness or suffer any physical abuse in any of these three homes nor was there any sign of sexual abuse and children pick up on these things.

One thing did stand out, however, in that 99 per cent of the staff were female, usually addressed as “aunties” and were generally young trainee social workers. The only male member of staff, “Uncle Harry” was married to the matron, and undertook security, driving and gardening duties and was seldom alone with children. I would suggest that not all men are paedophiles’ but that the greater majority of paedophiles are male.

Quite what we do about this is another matter, but this reality must be recognised.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland