Child sex abuse: Education Department computer loses 600 cases
Sarah Vogler, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail
July 31, 2015 12:58pm
POLICE are scrambling to investigate more than 600 reports of potential abuse against children that slipped through the cracks after an IT system allowing school principals to report alleged incidents to police malfunctioned.
Education Minister Kate Jones has stood two bureaucrats aside as investigations into the glitch continue.
It is understood the system was installed on January 22 this year following recommendations of the Carmody inquiry, but it was not tested.
It is understood about 644 reports, mainly regarding sexual abuse, were not received by police.
The glitch was discovered yesterday afternoon after a principal followed up a complaint. It only affected state schools, and it is understood about 80 per cent of the complaints have been looked at since the issue was uncovered.
One contractor charged with implementing the system has been stood aside as well as a manager charged with leading a team meant to test IT systems. Both have been stood aside on full pay.
Ms Jones said she had ordered an internal and external investigation which she indicated would also look at why it took more than six months to discover the error.
She said she was “clearly outraged and angry” that there had been a system failure.
“What we saw was a system failure,” she said.
She said two employees had already been stood aside.
“If you are making a change to the IT system, the very first thing you would do is check that system properly.”
She slammed the former government for not ensuring the system was tested first.
“I’m deeply sorry this situation has occurred but I am also extremely angry,” she said.
So far police have not identified any cases where a child has been put in danger, but the investigation of the missing reports is expected to take several weeks.
Ms Jones said there had not been enough checks and balances in place.
Education Department director-general Jim Watterson said he was shocked and very disappointed.
Ms Jones said principals were being advised that the information they were reporting had gone through to police.
“When I talk to principals, making complaints about sexual abuse is one of the toughest part of the job,” she said.
“I’m deeply sorry this has happened... We owe it to Queensland students to do better than that.”
Police said the review was ongoing but there had not been any cases discovered so far where a child had been put at risk.
Ms Jones said there was an obligation on any single departmental employee they must take immediate action.
“This is extremely distressing,” she said.
“One is to fix it, two is to make sure we are following up.. And three to have an external investigation.”
She said the implementation was done on January 22.
“I get daily critical incident reports about what happens in our schools... Just like the principals I was assured the system was working.”
Mr Watterson said there had been 3800 reports that had gone to police and the Child Safety Department.
“It should have been brought to our attention much earlier than this,” he said.
He said he took responsibility for fixing the problem.
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Child sex abuse: Education Department computer loses 600 cases Sarah Vogler, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail July 31, 2015 12:58pm
POLICE are scrambling to investigate more than 600 reports of potential abuse against children that slipped through the cracks after an IT system allowing school principals to report alleged incidents to police malfunctioned.
Education Minister Kate Jones has stood two bureaucrats aside as investigations into the glitch continue.
It is understood the system was installed on January 22 this year following recommendations of the Carmody inquiry, but it was not tested.
It is understood about 644 reports, mainly regarding sexual abuse, were not received by police.
The glitch was discovered yesterday afternoon after a principal followed up a complaint. It only affected state schools, and it is understood about 80 per cent of the complaints have been looked at since the issue was uncovered.
One contractor charged with implementing the system has been stood aside as well as a manager charged with leading a team meant to test IT systems. Both have been stood aside on full pay.
Ms Jones said she had ordered an internal and external investigation which she indicated would also look at why it took more than six months to discover the error.
She said she was “clearly outraged and angry” that there had been a system failure.
“What we saw was a system failure,” she said.
She said two employees had already been stood aside.
“If you are making a change to the IT system, the very first thing you would do is check that system properly.”
She slammed the former government for not ensuring the system was tested first.
“I’m deeply sorry this situation has occurred but I am also extremely angry,” she said.
So far police have not identified any cases where a child has been put in danger, but the investigation of the missing reports is expected to take several weeks.
Ms Jones said there had not been enough checks and balances in place.
Education Department director-general Jim Watterson said he was shocked and very disappointed.
Ms Jones said principals were being advised that the information they were reporting had gone through to police.
“When I talk to principals, making complaints about sexual abuse is one of the toughest part of the job,” she said.
“I’m deeply sorry this has happened... We owe it to Queensland students to do better than that.”
Police said the review was ongoing but there had not been any cases discovered so far where a child had been put at risk.
Ms Jones said there was an obligation on any single departmental employee they must take immediate action.
“This is extremely distressing,” she said.
“One is to fix it, two is to make sure we are following up.. And three to have an external investigation.”
She said the implementation was done on January 22.
“I get daily critical incident reports about what happens in our schools... Just like the principals I was assured the system was working.”
Mr Watterson said there had been 3800 reports that had gone to police and the Child Safety Department.
“It should have been brought to our attention much earlier than this,” he said.
He said he took responsibility for fixing the problem.