The editor of a regional daily criticised for an investigation into children’s services says it would be “simply wrong” to ignore the issue for fear of upsetting council staff.

HTFP reported on Friday how Norfolk County Council had publicly accused the Eastern Daily Press of “unfair and misleading” coverage after an investigation into its children’s services department.

The paper found that serious concerns remain over the department four years since it was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

Editor David Powles has since expanded the paper’s defence of its investigation in a comment piece, in which he stated he did not “take the decision to publish hard-hitting and in-depth investigations like this lightly.”

He wrote: “Once we decided to delve into the subject, our reporters dedicated week after week to speaking to people in the know, those affected and those with detailed knowledge of the issues.

“Many hours more were then spent carrying out the proper checks and balances. I remain confident we’ve picked up on an issue that is real, needs to be reported on and still needs to be acted upon. It may make uncomfortable reading but this is something which is hugely in the public interest.

“And yet, I do realise, as county hall officials have pointed out, there is a danger our articles could create a ‘misleading picture of the dedicated work’ staff in children’s services do every day.

“But I want to make it clear – and we’ve tried to do this throughout the last few days – that none of the criticisms or issues raised have been laid at the door at those people out in the community who do their very best for our county’s children in what are incredibly challenging conditions.

“However, it would be simply wrong to ignore the problems at hand because it might upset dedicated staff. And we hope that by raising concerns many staff themselves have, their working lives can be improved and ultimately, and crucially, so too will the care youngsters receive.”

David said the EDP had given council chiefs several weeks to properly respond to the investigation’s findings, which they chose not to.

He continued: “In fact, in the case of the problems around accommodation provided for 16 to 18-year-olds, the response was more concerning than that. We were assured the failings weren’t current and all was rosy in the garden, only for a week later new pictures to emerge showing that it was very much a current problem.

“Lo and behold council bosses have now launched their own investigation – but why did it take two articles for that to happen? How long would the problems have continued if we hadn’t highlighted the situation in the first place?

“We’ve made it clear time and time again that we are very happy to report on positive developments within children’s services. That hasn’t and won’t change. I remember last year going to see the boss of an influential organisation in this county and after a while the talk turned to Norfolk’s children in need.

“He said he felt the biggest issue Norfolk has is that it too often turns its back on some problems and tries to act like they don’t exist. Just like the famous monkeys – a case of hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil. We desperately hope that isn’t what is happening in this instance.”