Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
The case of a mother who gave her daughter three ecstasy tablets for her 13th birthday present has been cited by the “Robocop” Mayor of Middlesbrough as an example of problem families.
Former police officer Ray Mallon, who gained his nickname for his zero-tolerance approach to policing while serving as a detective superintendent with Cleveland Police, said that there were 360 children in care in the town.
“Many of these children are in care due to neglect because of poor parenting,” he said. “There was one where a mother gave a 13-year-old child ecstasy tablets – hard drugs – for her birthday. I just despair.”
He added: “One family costs £600,000 a year due to numerous interventions by the council and our partner agencies.”
Mr Mallon has been elected Middlesbrough’s Mayor as an independent candidate three times since 2002, but announced that he is to stand down in 2015. He said he believed there should be a referendum on whether the position should remain.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.