Morning:
9°c
IT IS a measure of the strong feelings raised by the Baby P case following the conviction of two men for causing or failing to prevent the death of a 17-month-old baby that it has sparked a passionate debate in the House of Commons.
A heated exchange between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, repeatedly interrupted by backbenchers, raised the question of how best to respond to the tragedy.
The Prime Minister insisted that the Government had acted swiftly and correctly in appointing Lord Laming to conduct an inquiry into the operation of child protection nationally and did not rule out a local investigation into whether there were failings by Haringey council. David Cameron insisted that such a local investigation was indispensable. He also took issue with the fact that the director of social services had ordered an inquiry into her own department. It transpires that this will be undertaken by indpendent experts but there is an apparent conflict of interest here. The emphasis of the two party leaders is different; what is indisputable is that this tragedy invites a vigorous and rapid response.
Yet almost the first reaction of Haringey council to the convictions was to declare that there would be no sackings and no resignations. Why not? The child was seen almost 60 times in eight months by social and care workers yet he still died of unspeakable injuries in a bloodstained cot. The fundamental guilt, obviously, is that of those who perpetrated these horrors or allowed them to happen: his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger. Individuals responsible for his welfare appear to have failed yet Sharon Shoesmith, head of children's services at Haringey, has said that her service had “worked effectively”. How, exactly?
The national investigation by Lord Laming will, no doubt, like his earlier investigation into the Victoria Climbié case, result in a useful report. But recommendations are not enough. There must be a full inquiry into any failures by Haringey social services followed, if necessary, by sackings and resignations. Of course social workers operate in difficult circumstances which would challenge any of us. But the principle of individual responsibility should be upheld, and the people who failed to protect Baby P should answer for their failings.
Out of work
The rise in unemployment figures to 1.82 million in the three months to September is a sobering reminder of the real cost of the economic downturn — not the fall in house prices but the loss of livelihoods. Economic experts now predict that the figure could reach two million within months; one predicted it would reach 3.3 million by 2010. It will be a bleak Christmas for many families.
The Bank of England's latest inflation report suggests the economy could contract by two per cent by early next year. The bright side is that a decline in inflation will translate into a cut in interest rates, something the Governor, Mervyn King, has said he is prepared to do. Cuts that could eventually reduce the base rate to zero per cent would certainly help indebted companies but it will not lead to any quick drop in unemployment. The truth is that an economy in which services and retailing have long been favoured over manufacturing is poorly placed to weather a recession that has had such an impact on consumer confidence. And matters will get worse before they get better.
And celebrating ...
THE V&A. Its director, Mark Jones, announces today that the museum is on schedule to complete the nine-year transformation of its galleries. And the crowning glory of the transformation will be the new Medieval and Renaissance gallery - a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the extraordinary holdings of the V&A from these centuries. The museum is one of the under-appreciated treasures of London, both in its building and its collections. The new galleries will be a welcome means to do it justice.
Reader views (4)
Yet again a small child has lost his life all because someone didn't do their job properly. I have a 20month old grand-daughter whom I look after 2 days a week. I can't begin to imagine the suffering this little mite went through at the hands of these so-called parents. How can a social worker see a child twice a week and not notice the injuries he has endured. If they go into a house and the parents immediately start making excuses about the child - alarm bells should start ringing and further investigation should take place. Even if it means physically holding the child and looking over his body to see if there are any bruises, cuts, scars, etc. This poor little boy must have been in agony and we say we live in a civilised society.
- Terry Ballard, Hornchurch, Essex, 13/11/2008 11:07
Report abuse
Didn't I read that the paediatrician was asked to make an assessment of the child for the social services and failed to see the injuries the child had, with that incompetent assessment, how exactly were the SSD and police to proceed. And try to remember, the guilty killers were among the mother and the boy friends. Soon we will be saying they (the killers) were victims too because the social worker didn't stop them.
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset, 12/11/2008 16:09
Report abuse
i read the story about the little boy and i wept with pain. how is this possible in a civilised country? the guilty partys have been found guilty of causing the todlers death but not murder but the social services and the gp should be found guilty of failing in their duty. i have an 18month of child and i can't imagine what that little boy would have had to endure. i am not surprised at the gp though. i had a nasty experience with a portugese doctor (whom i took my boy who had really high temp to see) who told me that even though he had a temp it was not high enough so i should go away. i eventully had to go to the a and e but i changed my gp after that incident. some of these doctors cannot be bothered!!
- Tope Brown, london, 12/11/2008 13:47
Report abuse
One of the reasons why child abuse continues is because many social workers lack the strength of character to deal with child abusers. The more social workers try to reason with the abuser, the more the abuser takes advantage of the social workers tolerant nature.
What we need is a change in the law that would give the Police full responsibility of visiting parents and carers suspected of child abuse in the first instance that child abuse is suspected, and for children to be protected by the same laws that protect adults from violent behaviour.
I believe that the fear of Police involvement will act as a powerful deterrent to those who harm children. It is important to remember that child abuse is a violent crime and not a social issue.
- Sheffield, Sheffield, 12/11/2008 12:57
Report abuse
