The burden of proof

Kit Goddard knows what it is like to be a child in care. Together with her four siblings, she spent most of her childhood in and out of care herself. However, unlike the others, she was lucky enough to finally be fostered with a loving couple, whose support and encouragement eventually influenced her decision to become a social worker.

Although good at her job, Kit has never handled any high-risk cases before. So, when she is asked to investigate a respected and well-connected member of the community – accused by two women of abusing them when they were thirteen – she immediately feels out of her depth. However, with no experienced person available to take the case, Kit is reluctantly obliged to accept the assignment.

Accompanied by DS Dai Davies from the Public Protection Unit and DS Beth Mackay from CID, Kit sets off to visit the Cooper family. Unfortunately, it is clear from the outset that Matt Cooper is not only arrogant, but also believes that his status and connections render him untouchable. His wife, Annie, is no better. Openly aggressive and rude, her initial reaction is to dismiss them all from her house – especially Kit, whose authority she resents, considering her to be socially her inferior. Fortunately, Kit is made of sterner stuff and holds her ground.

Given the nature of the alleged crime, Kit is primarily concerned with the safety of the Coopers’ three children and insists on interviewing them. By using drawing as a communication technique, she soon establishes a bond with the children, including the eldest daughter who is disabled and unable to speak. It is then, by patient persistence, that a picture of what might have happened eventually begins to emerge. However, suspecting is not the same as proving, and Kit soon finds herself having to not only protect the children’s safety, but also that of her career.

‘Allegation’ is a well-written, gripping and sensitive story about one woman’s determination to expose possible child abuse – despite opposition from an influential family and her own superiors, who refuse to believe such a pillar of society could do such a thing. Fortunately, Kit’s dogged focus and refusal to be intimidated eventually reveals the shocking truth.

Supported by a strong cast of characters, it is impossible not to feel empathy for Kit, as she struggles to uncover the truth against a backdrop of prejudice. Unfortunately, the blindness to wrongdoing that wealth and power can command, is sadly not an unusual one. Add to this Kit’s tragic and complex personal life, and the result is an engaging story that pulls you in from the very start and maintains your engagement to the very end.