Home-grown horrors

Ghoulish interest in the Fritzl family in Austria has allowed commentators to identify this as a uniquely Austrian crime and to question why no-one had approached the authorities with concerns. The implication has been that such events would not happen here.

So it was most distressing to read of Norman Carden, who abused two girls over a long period (your report, 8 May). Social workers and teachers had reportedly raised concerns but these were not acted on. So should we identify this as a uniquely British crime, where authorities who might have been able to intervene, did not.

SUSAN CLEGHORN

Seafield Road

Broughty Ferry