Ronnie Park

A social worker employed by Clackmannanshire Council has been struck off the professional register following his conviction for sharing indecent images of children. Ronnie Park, who worked as a children's social worker, was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2020 of possessing and distributing vile material depicting children as young as infants.

The case came to light after police raided Park's home in the Baillieston area of Glasgow, where they seized his iPhone and another phone. Examination of the devices revealed three moving images of indecent imagery involving children aged from infancy to nine years old on the first device, and five more on the second, showing children between six months and 11 years old. The court heard that Park had distributed these images to friends via WhatsApp, later claiming through his defence that the act was intended to 'shock' recipients as part of some 'dark humour'.

Although spared a prison sentence, Park was placed on the sex offenders' register for two years and ordered to carry out unpaid work. The conviction prompted an investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), which deemed his behaviour 'fundamentally incompatible' with professional registration. In a ruling issued on 6 April 2021, the SSSC stated: 'This type of behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with professional registration and is indicative of deep-seated attitudinal problems. The possession and distributing of indecent photos or pseudo photos of children is abusive behaviour and gives rise to a significant need to protect service users and the wider public.' They further noted that a reasonable member of the public would have 'significant concerns' about a registered social worker working with children engaging in such conduct, justifying his removal from the register to maintain public confidence.

Clackmannanshire Council confirmed that Park's employment ended nearly two years prior to the SSSC decision, following their disciplinary procedures, and that they had informed the regulator of the misconduct. The council's spokesperson added: 'Mr Park is no longer engaged with the council... We understand that Mr Park has been removed from the SSSC register.' No specific details were provided on whether there were prior indications of his behaviour during his time in Alloa, or on support for affected families.

The offence occurred prior to the 2020 court proceedings, with details emerging during the October hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court. This case highlights the strict standards upheld in social work, particularly for those in child protection roles, as reported by the Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser on 12 April 2021.