Despite clear signs that Lana was at risk, she was taken off the child protection register
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Lana’s care records note that as a child she was isolated, vulnerable and unloved by her family.
It was also noted that her brother sexually abused her, but social services still returned her to her family.
Lana doesn’t know for sure how old she was when her brother started sexually abusing her, only that the abuse goes back as far as she can remember. ‘For me it was normal … it was just what happened, like going out to play or going to the park’ she says.
Her mother was very cold and hostile towards her, and said more than once that Lana was not wanted. She dressed Lana and had her hair cut so she looked like a boy, and would frequently hit Lana.
Lana was frequently left alone with her older brother, especially during school holidays, and the abuse was relentless, sometimes happening several times a day. She clearly remembers her mother seeing what he was doing, but merely telling him to ‘Get off her’ before leaving the room.
At primary school, Lana recalls a girl crying. Lana’s brother had tried to sexually assault the girl. One of the lunchtime staff was shouting at Lana ‘You need to tell your mum what your brother has done’ [to the girl]. Lana did tell her mother but was told not to tell lies.
Lana also remembers that when she was about seven, the family went to visit relatives and her brother incited another family member, a boy of about 12, to rape her. He would encourage other boys to sexually assault her. ‘My brother basically passed me round his friends’ she says.
At one stage, Lana talked to some other children at school about what was happening to her, and this got back to one of the teachers. To her mother’s rage, the police were involved and Lana was given a medical examination.
After this, Lana was placed in care for a few weeks. Her school records state that she was ‘happier and brighter and blossoming’ away from home. This was passed to social services who also recorded that her mother said she didn’t want her, but Lana was still returned to her family.
Back at home, Lana’s brother continued sexually abusing her. After he attempted to rape her, she told a school nurse. Social services became involved again and Lana went back into care.
Between her care placements, Lana saw different doctors because she was suffering with cystitis and other health issues. One of them made a note that there was ‘an upset in the family … apparently doesn’t get on with her older brother’.
After Lana’s second care placement, the family were referred for therapy, and Lana was taken off the child protection register. The family moved several times and it appears that information was not passed to relevant services in the different areas they lived.
Lana feels strongly that health, education and social services should keep each other informed, and be especially careful to do this when families move to different areas. She adds that professionals should always find a way to communicate with children, listen to them, and make sure they are given a safe place to speak.