WHOA
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-44084298
Rich families use 'privilege to opt out' of child services
Rich families are using "privilege" to disrupt or avoid child abuse investigations, a report has found.
Goldsmith's University found wealthy households were effectively "opting out" of the child protection system.
Social workers had uncovered cases of sexual exploitation and emotional abuse, but found children's services were biased towards poorer families.
Professor Claudia Bernard, who led the study, said neglect cases in affluent areas often went "under the radar".
Prof Bernard told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "People have these deep-set beliefs that this is happening in poor, dysfunctional families."
Friends in 'high places'
The study received an overwhelming response from social workers who were frustrated by the way they were treated, she said.
All respondents found richer families had a "sense of privilege", subjecting social workers to a level of scrutiny that poorer families did not.
Some participants commented that wealthy parents would only deal with managers, or would belittle social workers with threats of complaints.
One social worker said: "They'll get on to their local councillor, someone who they go hunting or shooting with or play golf with.
"They know people in high places and they threaten you with people as well."