LAW- CASE STUDY

Law- Case Study



Law- Case Study

Introduction

As per the 2001 census, the population of the UK is close to 59 million people, out of which a staggering 15.8 million are children. The proportion of children as compared to the rest of the population in UK however has been on a steep decline over the past decades. In 1971 the children accounted for 25% of the entire population, and this figure decreased to only 20% in 1991 (www.statistics.gov.uk, 2012). These statistics show that the average population has been getting older, and the number of children in the society is decreasing. The issue of childcare is a very important significant factor in this small yet heavily populated country. The quality of child care depends on the environment that these children are living in. It is estimated that (Child Poverty Action Group 1999) up to 30% of the entire child population resides below the poverty line in UK. Whereas the population of children that are living in households, that have an annual income which is half the average national income has also increased exponentially. This figure may have increase by up to twice the size since the situation in the 1970's. The children living under such conditions are faced with several challenges. These low income and poverty stricken households are generally characterized by uneducated and violent parents, who are not able to provide a healthy household environment for the children. These children are often neglected by their parents, and have a higher chance to indulge in juvenile activities or drug use from a young age.

The government has realized the significance of this dilemma, and has taken several steps so as to improve the overall education and health services in these households, provide support for the parents to attain better jobs and be able to adequately support their children. The dilemma of youth crime and drug use is also being tackled by the government authorities, by making significant positive changes to the household environment of the youth. Numerous credible studies have formed a direct link between the criminal activities of the youth and the quality of the childhood environment of the households that these children grew up in. The government has taken initiatives on the local and as well as the national level to formulate strategies to reduce the poverty among the British families and improve the overall environment that the children grow up in. The Children's Service Plan, required by the government since 1996, has an objective to adequately address the needs of the children of UK on the city level. Similar to this initiative the government has recently shown great interest in the household environments of the British youth, and has taken adequate steps to help and educate the parents, so that they are not abusive towards their children.

Child Care Laws in UK: Historical Perspective

Poor Laws

Since the 16th century onwards to the mid twentieth century; a progressive development of certain Poor Laws, have given a significant amount of power to ...