The UK government has announced plans to keep an electronic file on every child in England in a range of new child protection measures announced by prime minister Tony Blair.
The children's files together with their unique e-number will be managed by local authorities in a “local information hub”. The file will contain the name, address and date of birth of each child, together with the name of the school attended and whether the child is known to such agencies as the police, social services or educational welfare. Where multiple agencies are involved the file will denote which one profesional will have overall reponsibilty.
The measures are largely the result of the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié who was battered, abused and starved to death by her carers in London in 2000. She was eight years old. [Privacy Digest]