Leaked report shows Baby P blunders

The confidential document, handed to the Mail on Sunday, describes how vital information about his background was not passed on to police, and doctors and officials missed and delayed meetings to discuss his welfare.

The 17-month-old died in August 2007 after suffering horrific injuries at the hands of his mother, her abusive boyfriend and their lodger while on the child protection register.

He was seen by social workers, doctors and police on 60 occasions during an eight-month period.

The leaked report shows a legal meeting that ultimately decided against taking the child out of his home just days before he died was delayed by six weeks due to "workload pressures". Meanwhile, health, welfare and legal experts missed other meetings, the Mail on Sunday reports.

It also reveals that six months before Baby P's death, it was agreed an interim care order could be issued to remove him - but no action was taken.

It shows the police officer who took over the child abuse claims case was not told of Baby P's background and the investigation was allowed to "drift".

Also, instructions not to let the child return home until dogs had been removed from the house were ignored and social workers did not believe the mother had a live-in lover even after she told a parenting class she was pregnant, the document reportedly says.

In addition, a paediatrician who apparently failed to spot Baby P had a broken back just two days before he died believed the boy was sent for treatment because of his "behaviour" rather than child abuse.

The Government came under fire for refusing to make public the full details of the Serious Case Review, and a spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said it is "hugely regrettable" the report has been leaked, adding that the person behind the leak "has been deeply irresponsible and ought to reflect on the fact that they are putting vulnerable children at severe risk now and in the future".