Silent Witness (TV Series) Protection: Part 2 (2015) User Reviews

A compelling and disturbing tale of a missing child

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 20 January 2015]

These comments refer to the entire two part story.

This two part story opens with a man trying to visit his estranged family; it turns out social services have been concerned for some time and social worker Louise Marsh believes the couples child, a young girl, should be put in care but the judge disagrees and the girl returned to her mother. While Nikki and Jack are called to a playground where a body has been found Jack is called away; the girl has gone missing. Soon it is established that dead man had forced the missing girl to perform a sex act on him shortly before he died. Meanwhile a sixteen year old boy leaves council care and returns to his grandparents who tell him his youngest sister is going to be put up for adoption because his mother refuses to leave her boyfriend who they claim is abusive; the boyfriend later ends up dead as well. This his case is linked to the first by the fact that both involve Louise.

By and large 'Silent Witness' provides entertaining mysteries without being too disturbing; this is an exception. The viewer is left to worry about the wellbeing of the missing girl and even if she is still alive we are told disturbing details about what she was forced to do by the man in the playground. There are plenty of suspects including the families… indeed it is stressed that 'stranger danger' is quite rare compared to abuse by somebody known to the victim. The story emphasises the difficulties for social services showing how in the quest to protect a child who may be in danger they could end up destroying a loving family and condemning a child to life in care while failure to act can be even more dangerous. The identity of the killer(s) isn't obvious and thankfully the ending is more upbeat than I feared it might be.

It's a strong conclusion.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 9 March 2020]

Lizzie is still missing, The Police are convinced she's dead, The Lyell team offer hope that she's out there somewhere. Louise is convinced the parents are still to blame, she's also convinced that a young baby is being abused by his parents.

It is a dramatic episode, it's an intriguing and entertaining hour. There are three different stories, all of which are interlinked by one person, Louise Marsh, a Social worker with Children's welfare at the heart of her decision making.

We were led up a blind alley in the first episode, Louise is so determined in her decision making, that she seems blind to any doubt, I'm not sure she's a true representative of the profession.

It's quite a bleak story, but it's a good watch, Claudia Blakley is very good here.

8/10.

Social Services Two

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 3 May 2019]

This episode revolves around the way social services treats people. I have seen social workers so overloaded with cases that they don't know which way is up. This episode makes a case that these people are cruel and incompetent, right up to the last sentence. The woman focused on probably got burned out when her findings were rejected or the psychotic world stepped in. She tried to use her best judgment. At the end she makes a serious mistake. Good episode but a bit slanted.

Misrepresentation of of social work powers reinforce media and public vilification

[garfieldhunt · 5/10 · 6 February 2015]

I have watched Silent Witness for years and think it is a great British drama, highlighting the complexities of varied lives, circumstances and how forensics contribute towards crime solutions. However, i have to say that I was very saddened by the portrayal of the social worker in series 18 double episode 3 of 5, Protection". Social workers undertake such important roles in this society, protecting and bettering the lives of severely abused and neglected children; improving the lives of vulnerable adults with mental health issues and learning disabilities, contributing to stability to those affected by cognitive brain disorders (dementia, Alzheimer's's), caring for older adults and those at the end of their life course - including hospice care, and so much more. unfortunately, as a profession, we have had to put up with so much negative media attention, which only goes to reinforce the general public's disdain and hatred of social workers - the majority of whom do a very good job. as in ALL professions, there are always those who don't live up to the high standards expected; however, social work is scrutinised beyond levels of acceptability in so many circumstances. 'Damned if you do, damned if you don't', I believe one recent documentary was entitled.This theme continued in this particular episode of Silent Witness, where a social worker, armed with information suggesting that a child's bruising was due to medical reasons, ignored this in favour of removing the child from his parents and placing him in to care. This was quite remarkable, although not surprising, and the researchers clearly wanted to follow the accepted public vilification of social workers, who somehow, have this sudden power to 'do what we like' despite evidence to the contrary. where was the opposition from the child's Guardian, the parents' lawyers, the health professionals, and, most importantly, the Judge? If this had been presented to the Judge - only s/he could make the decision to grant an order for removal - NOT the social worker! it's about time social workers were given a fair portrayal and the media should consider how many lives are SAVED and improved as a direct result of social work intervention. No one is perfect, but social workers do make a difference, in a positive way, to thousands of lives each year.