Friday 22 May 2009

Baby P; criticism for all concerned with case

http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/news/archive/2009/may/22/02.htm

None of the authorities responsible for protecting Baby Peter has escaped criticism.
There was widespread outrage when it emerged that Baby P, who can now be named as Peter, had been on the at-risk register for eight months when he died from shocking abuse. Photo: PA
Social workers, police, doctors and lawyers have all been hauled over the coals in a series of damning reports examining what went so horrifically wrong in this case.
There was widespread outrage when it emerged that Baby P, who can now be named as Peter, had been on the at-risk register for eight months when he died from shocking abuse.
Reviews of the case identified a catalogue of missed opportunities when child protection experts could have saved the little boy's life if they had acted properly on the warning signs in front of them.
After the trial of those responsible for Peter's death, public anger and official censure initially focused on social workers at Haringey Council in north London.
At first children's services director Sharon Shoesmith refused to resign or sack any of her staff, saying: "There was not the evidence there for anyone to lose their jobs."
But an urgent review of Haringey's child welfare provision ordered by Children's Secretary Ed Balls came to a different conclusion.
On December 1 last year the inspectors came back with a short but strongly-worded report that identified "serious concerns" and condemned the local authority's child protection services as "inadequate".

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