• Under scrutiny ... council director, social workers and health staff
• David Cameron: We've had a raft of excuses and no apology
• ES comment: Baby P: where the buck stops
• Blog: Brown woefully underbriefed on Baby P
• Poll: Are Social Services to blame for Baby P?
• Cameron clashes with Brown over scandal of Baby P

Reader views (70)

 Add your view

In our country the guilty party is identified not only by name but by picture - why in your country are they protected under a veil of secrecy?? Shouldn't everyone know their name so that no one else will fall prey to their brutality? We must do more to protect our innocent children.

- Mary, Virginia / USA

I am sickened to the core. This poor little mite suffered beyond belief yet not one person stood up for him. It breaks my heart to know that he was all alone facing this evil whilst his mother did nothing but laugh. what kind of 'civilised' society allows such an attrocity to occur yet does NOTHING! A child is a precious gift from God. Words cannot describe the revulsion I feel for the monsters who inflicted this evil upon Baby P, beautiful, darling little tot. As a nation,we must make a stand- get rid of these incompetent proffesionals and put someone in place who is not afraid to stand up for children like Baby P, for if we do not then we are all guilty and the abuse will continue. You are in the arms of Jesus now little where no one can ever hurt you again. We love you Baby P xxxx

- D.Flynn, Lancashire

I have never been a Tory-voter , but I have to say that David Cameron has really gone up in my estimations after seeing PMQs. He mirrored public outrage and disgust at the failings in this case and was genuinely angry, whilst Brown (who I can't abide) came out with a load of arrogant, beaucratic, meaningless nonesense. I will never ever vote Labour again.

Shoesmith is a pointless, incompentent worm and should resign but unfortunately, I have a horrible feeling that everyone concerned will keep their jobs and it will all be brushed under the carpet once again. What a disgrace!

- V, Leeds, Yorkshire

Is everyone forgetting the three SICK individuals one who claims to be "a damn good mother". Yes i agree the social services badly let this boy down, had a set time every week they visited this sick thing of a woman giving her opportunity to cover the bruising and make excuses. God only knows what this baby was going through for the amusement and evening entertainment.Were was the neigbours! the granparents the father of this poor mite. And why was the Qualified child minder not noticing more? Surely all the injuries and the length of time this was going on for this went on for, It was her job to work with the social services to. This society are STILL having alot to say about things but no one ever wants to get INVOLVED.
As the mother she was his sole protector (his mummy)should be held accountable for MURDER! But as we know she will get probably 10 years in prison and then a new identity and be younger enough to have more children. And as for the 2 men! well put them in a room full of "Damn good mothers" and shut the door!

- Mandy, islington london

the fact of the matter is, some people are not doing their job therefor they should be sacked immediately. Such an important job which earns them 30 k or more. Makes me think they are in it for the money and not the welfare of children.

- Matt Watson, staines uk

This poor excuse for a Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, yesterday displayed a callous "save my own skin first" attitude at PM questions and Brown should be roundly condemned for accusing David Cameron of using this poor baby's death to advance his own political position. Yet again, as consistently witnessed in his approach to the sick economy, Brown exhibited his usual selfish display of his need to stay in office at the expense of whatever gets in his way.

- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, uk

I don't think I've ever been more appalled at the behaviour in Parliament than what I saw at question time today - Labour and Tory MPs shouting at each other whilst the tragic death of tiny kid was being raised. Have they no sense of decency?

- Mark, London

Jeff Brown, Teddington UK - I totally agree there must be a way that us as decent people can petition this. If Ross and Brand can be hauled over because of public complaints then surely our complaints now need to be heard in this case, those who failed should now be accountable.

- Maggie May, London

Where was Baby P's father when all this was going on?
Why didn't HE check things out from time to time?
Yet another example of the scum held afloat by Brown's
welfare dependency culture; changing partners on a whim
at the taxpayers' expense!

- Brian Taylor, Oxford UK

First of all. To the natural father of Baby P please accept my heart felt condolences.
To the Authorities who have been elected by the people of your Borough, ACT NOW. To the people of Haringey, STAND UP AND BE COUNTED. it was your vote that got them in, its your vote to get them out.

- Roy Alchin, London

We all should think here - how our society is progressing? I agree that the council workers have to be punished but much more than that just think how the society is changed these days by not to take care of their own children! If not mother who will take care of the child? How on earth such a mother exists? The 3 people responsible for killing the boy should get life sentence with no right to apply for bail.

- Samuel, London

With all the pressure from M.P.s and the public, it is likely that, eventually, Ms. Shoesmith will do the honourable thing and resign.
Unfortunately, in the way of the Civil Service, she will receive a large pay-off and, within a few months, be back in the employment of another Council.

- Charles, Stanmore. London

This is awful, and it would have been so much better had the social services been able to prevent it.

I feel Cameron's attempt to make this party political though is also perverse. Neither the time nor the issue … this is genuinely appalling and shouldn’t have party politics anywhere near it.

- Emma, London, UK

I have a child of this age, and I cannot stop crying about this poor little boy. Why no one is willing to put their hands up and take the blame (I think it should be one of the social workers) compounds the problem until it happens again. Sadly I think it will. Why as a society are we so worried about upsetting people, the very people who need to be confronted. Yes the mother conned all the professionals, it seems all but the police, who I reckon have a better idea about spotting abuse than anyone, probably because not having such a softly softly approach works best.

The whole system failed this boy - who just happened to be born into this hell, that was his short life. God bless you P, your safe now.

- Merrin, London

But we don't have a 'Broken Society' do we?

Any Labour MP (or Haringey Labour Councillor)will tell you that.

- Anglo, Sussex UK

The actual killers seem quite forgot. Always it seems there has to be a scapegoat, The psychopathic killers get anonymity, why was that, when the social worker is vilified? Any decision on at risk children will be taken by Doctors, Police, Health visitors and their specialist advisor, the social services and last but not least a lawyer to advise if there is a case for legal action.

- Frank, Dorchester Dorset

Squiz: If you are a social worker you have a moral duty to ensure that a child already on the Risk Register isn't being tortured and beaten. It was obvious from P's injuries that the child in question was being maltreated and tortured. Are they all stupid or what? If a social worker is duped by what these so called responsible adults are telling her then she needs to get herself another job as she's moron and shouldn't be in charge of a toy let alone a child's life! I hope the Mother and her partner rot in hell. The Social Worker should be sacked. God knows how that little boy suffered, the pain he must have been in doesn't bear thinking about.

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

I suspect that Haringey staff did "follow procedures" but doubt those procedures were "correct". Unfortunately this country has become obsessed with "procedures" and "regulations" at the expense of common sense and personal responsibility. The Labour government has encouraged this ever since it came to power and we are seeing the consequences and paying the price.

- Adam, London, UK

The little boy was examined by a 'paediatrician' two days before he died... How can any doctor have missed the injuries this poor little tot had? This doctor and all the case workers have blood on their hands.

- Beatriz, London

Cameron's take on this is absolutely right, from initial outrage and disgust to analysis of the lack of leadership and responsibility. Nothing absolves the guilt of the actual perpetrators, but there are people in the social services who must take responsibility for their own failings. They and the Government should know that the public is watching very closely.
On the same subject, Brown's evasion and party politics at PMQ's was truly shameful and badly misjudged - he was very keen to pile in on Brand and Ross, but not on this one for some reason.

- David H, Aylesbury, England

I cannot understand what on earth the doctor who examined the child was doing. Any competent children's doctor would have spotted that a broken back was a very serious matter but this was overlooked.

- David Wallin, London

There has to be some sacking at the Haringey Council - without doubt, plus a serious overhaul on social worker training and the calibre of individual recruited into that role. This situation is absolutely horrific and it is beyond belief that this child was allowed to stay in the care of such barbaric abusers - it makes my blood boil. May the little lad rest in peace; no more pain little one.

- Louise, Surrey

Case workers MUST be sacked. I am a 28-year-old man, but can't help crying every time I read this story. I can't believe Sharon Shoesmith will not sack anyone over this case. It is a life of an innocent child. Since when a life of a human has become so irrelevant to the governmental body? Since when a life became worth as little as a written warning? I agree with Jason - shoot the parents, or maybe treat them the same way they treated the baby. Will this teach them a lesson? NO! No-one, who is as cruel as they are, deserves to live... Even animals, who have only instincts, take care of their children better than these sadists.

- Alex, London

Ms. Shoesmith sounds like Pontius Pilate in her defence. Of course, Haringey Social Services are not charged with killing this poor child but it was their duty to do everything possible to prevent it happening. That is their area of responsibility, that is what they are paid for and that is where they failed and should be judged on. To hide behind regulations and protocol is a Kafka nightmare scenario come true.

- Jan Bors, London U.K.

It speaks volume that David Cameron should seek to make political capital out of a tragic case where what is really required is sober and thorough investigation.

- Alan, Haringey

Social workers either seem to get it wrong and a child dies or they take children into care when the parents have done nothing wrong.

However, there are thousands of cases each year when they get it right and don't get any praise for saving a child.

Having said that for two high profile cases to exist in Haringey there must be a systemic failure of control and therefore not only should the case workers face disciplinary action, so should their supervisors.

- Adam, Harrow, UK

I cried when I read the newspaper story and saw the pictures of this poor little boy. I would give a lot to have been there and put a stop to the cruelty the kid suffered. I would cheerfully have done the time for my actions too.

- Alan Preen, McLean, Texas, USA.

The doctor ought to be struck off. In the local paper it said she didn't examine the child because he was dirty and crying. What sort of doctor is she? She also changed her evidence between the police station and the court, claiming that she hadn't understood the police's questions. Shouldn't be practicing if she can't understand English.

- Sue R, London, England

Well done, Richard fellow 'resident' of the People's Soviet of Haringey. How the council boasts in the monthly propaganda magazine that is the Haringey People on how green and clean the borough is. Clean? When such dark and dirty corners as the sufferings of Baby P exist here - and are encouraged - by Shoesmith, Santry et al. Sack them all! Let's hope this latest blast of publicity and the intervention of David Cameron and local MP Lynne Featherstone will provoke their sacking and being charged with criminal negligence at least. Otherwise they will hang on to their jobs like grim death as usual and STILL expect to be paid by us long suffering taxpayers.
Clear them out once and for all!!!!!! Haringey needs a blast of fresh clean air to abolish the stench they are emitting.

- Jan, london north

What we need now:
Shoesmith and staff should be sacked, and pension rights forfeited. If I made such a mess of my trivial job, I’d be out before the ink was dry on my P45.
Anyone asked to chair an enquiry should refuse to do so. What an empty gesture is an enquiry when it’s all been examined before. And who’d want payment for it?
All Soc. Serv. or child protection staff should be put on a bonus scheme, whereby any convictions for abuse or related activities, any deaths or hospitalisations of wards would be decremented from payments.
There should be a ‘Climbie’ defence for anyone involved in taking a child into care who proves not to have needed it. Better alive in care than dead with parents.
There should be mandatory whole-life sentences for people convicted of such offences as were committed here.
Child Care professionals should have responsibility for assessment circumscribed. They are clearly incapable of exercising realistic judgement. A level of court should be established where cases are referred as soon as there is more than x-number of visits to an address or family. That court would then be responsible for determining the best course for the protection of any minors.

- Colin, Chester UK

To Squiz

so its fine then to let this baby be abused and killed , no ones fault at the council eh! Turn a blind eye, keep paying them shed loads of money good pensions for what--not my fault gov the child was miserable and cranky.
For God's sake get these people out of there.

- Brian Hunwicks, Spain and glad to be a Conservative

Policitcal correctness stops us from stating the obvious on everything nowadays. What is blindingly obvious in this case again is that Harringey "social services" and council management are incompetent, lazy, probably downright dim in many cases, and above all, lack leadership and accountability. And the paediatrician should be struck off too for not detecting 8 broken ribs and a broken back. I felt physically sick yesterday when I heard the details of what that baby boy suffered.

- Saul Haydon Rowe, London

Squiz, Islington states: "kneejerk-tastic". So, that callous dismissal would include everyone I have spoken to or read today and judging by the comments on numerous blogs, comment threads etc. nearly the whole of the country. Cameron is asking the questions that the majority of the population want answers to and for those charged with the duty of care to be held accountable. Not too much to ask when a child has been murdered is it or can't you see this through your clouded view?

- Simon, Chatham, Kent

I am absolutely sickened that this could happen in this day and age. Yesterday we heard the story of a young 13 year old girl who was threatened to be taken into care because she did not want a heart operation. Now this, where a child should have been taken into care was let down by the system. A few weeks ago, thousand of people complained about the antics of two BBC2 presenters. Where are those thousands now? We should organise a petition to Downing Street in order to have our voices heard about this, vile, evil act by people who no longer should be regarded as "human".

- Jeff Brown, Teddington UK

The so called head of the department Sharon Shoesmith, is SCUM fancy not even apologising.

Yet another example of public sector staff arrogance.

- P I Staker, London

As father to a 14-month old, I was truly sickened when I read this. Even more so to hear that nobody is to be held accountable. Child Protection Services are called just that for a reason, so for the head of that agency to come out and say that it's not their fault and refuse to apologise to the child's father is nothing short of disgusting. She should be sacked, along with the cabinet minister responsioble, who clearly isn't doing their job properly if existing legislation protects the abusers more than it punishes them, and as for the abusers themselves, They should be have exactly the same injuries inflicted on themselves that they inflicted on that poor, defenceless child. May he rest in peace.

- Andy Seaman, Bow, London

I watched PMQ's. All credit to Cameron to raise these very important issues. Unfortunately Brown would not answer some very reasonable questions and treated it as a party political issue,

- Mike, Edinburgh

I was sickend by this event and could not carry on reading the story last night in the paper it is so horrific. Watching Sharon Shoesmith on TV last night I cant tell you how much I want harm to come to her and the rest of the so called social workers/doctors involved in causing this baby's death. They have blood on their hands and should pay with prison sentences. There are no excuses for the blunders made and the consequent death of a defenceless baby due to incompetent idiots who call themselves the social services. You lot sicken me and always remember, what goes around comes around.

- Jw, London

Somebody is responsible, more than one person I am sure. Whoever they be, they must be held accountable,and, they must pay a price, which would include being barred from holding positions of similar responsibility in the future. Otherwise what incentive is there for anyone to learn from these oft repeated mistakes! Surely, it is more than a coincidence that Harringay Council is yet again the villan of the piece!

- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.

How many more will die.No one is accountable.Until they are held responsible and face the sack this is going to happen time and time again.

- Dave Smith, Croydon

Squiz how can you say that social services had this childs best interest at heart??? Are you utterly delutional?? - they are trained and paid to do a job and they failed unbelieveably in this - yes the 3 people that subjected the child to this death should be jailed for 30 years - but these social workers involved in this case should be sacked and Haringeys council should be investigated and all those people that keep failing the people that they are meant to be looking after should be sacked. The victoria climbie case was one too many that it has happened again makes me sick with anger. If we stand by and do nothing we are all guilty the next time this happens.

- Nicky, London

This is clear dereliction of duty.It isn't going through the motions that counts in a job , it is outcomes and in this case it was the death of a child.In other cultures they would be accessories to the fact.Also at fault is the doctor.And what do you think the 3 criminals will get then 6 months suspended?After all there's people not paying council tax that need to be banged up first.

- A Moreno, luxembourg

It makes my blood boil,reading about this case.
tHESE socail workers, who dealt with this case, they must be all stupid and none carring, how on earth did they not see the signs? God helps us all to be looked after this sort of,professionals.
In my opinion they should all be sacked and their licence to practic to be withdrawn and a new team shoul be selected.
They may do a better job, but there is no garantee to that
C W Redhill

- Christine Waring, Redhill Surrey England

Gordon Brown was complacent when asked at PMQs today about this awful crime. He just kept repeating complete nonsense about 'executive summary' and arrogantly refused to answer the very important issues that had been raised. It was like listening to a sales manager waffling at a regional meeting instead of the Prime Minister of our country. I doubt he has any leadership ability.

- Bethany Williams, London

Last night on channel 4 news we had a glimpse of the childminder put in place by Harringey to take care of the child during the day.
She clearly stated to camera that Baby P sat in the hallway quietly whilst under her care- she also stated that the BLOOD in his ears had been (according to the mothers explanation) due to an EAR INFECTION.
This woman should be sacked. Are you telling me that she thinks blood coming out of ears is an ear infection?? gunk yes, clear fluid yes, blood no- never.....
What were harringey council thinking of- he was left to die in the hands of poor uneducated parents, and social care- including the doctor who failed to see he had a broken back. The mother and the creature who harmed this child should be named and shamed and then sent prison having their right to father and bear any other children removed. I hope they rot in proson hell.

- Angry, london uk

'Sara from London' is right when she says sackings will not relieve one minute of the baby's suffering, but sackings will stop these incompetant professionals from repeating their mistakes. I'm really glad that the names of the individuals who were employed to protect the child have been made public. I doubt many people will be comfortable dealing with Dr Sabah Alzayyat from now on. The real blame lies with them. The mother and the two men involved are clearly in need of help themselves, but it was the professionals from Haringey who had the power, but not the will, to save the child.

- Ben Farrell, London

Squiz - whilst I agree with you that the 3 monsters should be charged with murder - do you seriously think that social services had the best interests of the poor little mite? Has it not sunk in that they visited SIXTY times? Six ZERO times, not 6 or 16 but 60? Whoever allowed them to visit that many times, surely must have allowed for them to take immediate action. An entire overhaul of the entire system and sacking of those that could of done something but didnt must happen immediatley!

- Natty, London

How is this allowed to happen in these days of political correctness? My faith in human nature has been totally lost.......what with this and thugs breaking into an old man's house and beating him half to death.........makes me think this is hell and we work our way to heaven......dear little mite

- Vikki, Bristol, Bristol

Heads must roll from the top down, how many other children in Haringey are in danger under their watch.

Putting common sense to one side these and hiding behind 'procedures' these PC obsessed morons are a danger to all those poor souls at risk. If, as Sharon Shoesmith claims, the blame rests entirely with the mother what is the point of Social Services.

Will somebody please have the guts to get rid of Ms Shoesmith and her bunch of uselesss cohorts before any more Baby Ps are tortured and murdered under cover of chocolate and other lame excuses.

- Ron, London

"The legal threshhold for going to court to obtain a care order had not been met". Just what kind of abuse WOULD have 'met the legal threshhold'?!

How long before social workers are actually people with some experience of life and a sense of responsibility, and how long before these government departments remember that life is about people and not about stupid targets, bureacracy, filling in forms and personal meal-tickets?

I'm just so glad this poor child is in a better place now - even oblivion would be better than what he suffered at the hands of his so-called 'mother', her cronies, and the wilfully blind social worker and paediatrician amongst others.

- Paula, Devon

I am astonished and genuinely sickened, not least by the horror of this crime, but by the unbelievable response of Sharon Shoesmith of Haringey Council. Apart from the failure of her department on an unimaginable scale, which should be enough by itself to see her resign, there is the disgusting attempt to absolve the council of reponsibility and blame the perpetrators. Sickening, Disgusting, Unbelievable - RESIGN NOW Sharon Shoesmith!

- Simon, Epsom, Surrey

Those involved in this case who failed to notice the signs that were so obvious should be sacked. The parents and the lodger need to be locked up and never ever allowed near children again or be allowed to have children. There are many familes out there who cannot have children and could be loving to a child if allowed to there are many parents out there who already provide a good loving home. Parents who cannot provide good care and attention to their children need to be stopped and the child needs to be taken to a place of safety. This sort of thing should NEVER be allowed to happen again.

- Maggie May, London

Haringey residents don't pay your council tax until these social workers and doctors are fired.

- Frederick, London, UK

Does anyone know if Haringey Council could be prosecuted for Coporate Manslaughter in this case?

- Grimelda North, london

Serious failing in the system are clear even from the information available in this article.

The process and systems used to protect child need to be reviewed and if heads are to roll they need to be senior ones.

I also cannot believe the defence of the lady form Haringey council on the TV news. Basically what she said was it doesn't happen often so we are doing a good job.

One avoidable death is too many, plain and simple!!!!

- Stuart, Luton, UK

The case workers should be sacked at the very least and ideally charged with negligence. How many signs do you need? As for the mother and partner, they should be taken out and shot, they are clearly of no value to society. Yet another example of why you should have to obtain a licence to become a parent. We licence tasks of far less responsiblility than raising a child, yet we let any moron procreate. As this case demonstrates the risk to the individual they create are far too high, and if they manage to survive, to society as a whole as the poor damaged individual trys to make their way in a world they will be illequipped to handle. In all, a complete disgrace but less and less surprising these days. Forget all these bailouts, spend money on education and job creation. Empowering people with the ability to determine their fate will solve more problems than most can imagine. But then that doesn't suit the political class as they need a bug bear to scarce us into voting for them. Arghhh!. Rant over.

- Jason, London

I think one of the most disgusting things in this whole sorry affair is the attitude of Council boss Sharon Shoesmith, quote "who refused to apologise to the boy's father, said: 'None of the agencies involved murdered this child. 'The child was killed by members of his own family. The very fact is you cannot stop people who are determined to kill children. What a despicable thing to say - I wonder how she would feel if this happened to someone in her family.

- Michelle, Bromley

I can't help but tears are coming when reading this sickening story. How on earth could you explain this attitude towards such an innocent little boy. He hasn't asked to be on earth. I am sure that where he is now God will take care of him and he will be happy in heaven. With regards to the people involved in that sickening story, I strongly believe that everyone should pay the price, not only the 3 who have inflicted the horrible injuries to this poor and innocent little boy, I pray that they rot in prison and the mother be sterilised, but also that the staff at Haringey Council should be sacked. I saw the interview of the person in charge, what arrogance when she said that nobody had failed in their duty to protect the poor baby. Your job is to ring the alarm bell, and if you can't do so, change your job!

- Doudoupa, london, W13

It is outrageous that these pampered bureaucrats can simply smugly assure us that it was not their fault and that correct procedures were followed. This was a catastrophic failure that condemned a tiny child to months of hell before finally being killed.

Shoesmith and her staff should not just be sacked, they should stand trial for gross negligence.

- Carl, London

The childminder on tv last night said there was blood coming from the child's ears, what kind of child minder is she, not to have taken the child to the hospital or informed the authorities immediately, she has shown herself up to be in my mind as culpable as the perpetrators, she was the last person who was in a position to do something for the child, and she did nothing but watch him sit on the floor in her hallway. It beggars belief that she should be put in charge of any children.

- Ros, London UK

This failing council should be made to pay a heavy price for this sickening failure to protect a vulnerable child. A council that spends half its time in phoney race-obsessive initiatives and politically correct posturing towards selective 'religious partners' rather than competent management is hardly going to learn lessons from this tragic case. It is no surprise to those of us unfortunate enough to live in this shameful borough that a case almost identical to the Victoria Climbie tragedy has happened again. But that no-one has taken responsibility and tendered their resignation just about sums up this moribund local authority. Sadly, unless heads roll, we shall be here in a couple of years time mourning another tragic case like this where the council has been incompetent, still transfixed by phoney schemes rather than protecting those most in need of protection.

- Richard, London, UK

I never thought I'd agree with anything that came out of David Cameron's mouth, but for once I am in full agreement. Not only that but I am quite shocked no other very senior figure has stood up and said the same thing. I should also very much like to know why the mother of this poor child cannot be identified.

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx

I do agree that anyone who is culpable to the death of Baby P should not only be sacked but to face the long arms of the law. What happened to Baby P is horrendous. Nonetheless, to put the cart before the horse would be wrong. I believe the view taken by Beverly Hughes is more appropriate. It is disgraceful that Harringey Council went on defending their staff rather than showing remorse on the death of Baby P.

- Alex Lisinge, Putney London

The whole area of social services needs a major review. A relative was severely disabled in her latter years and as she could not fund the care package social services were involved. Although one or two social workers were good many were very poor. Contacting them was near impossible as most seemed to be part-time and/or job sharing and when in attending meetings about meetings! None of them ever seemed to own a problem. In complete contrast 'occupational therapists' were invoved on two occasions. They were always helpful and pro-active, and owned the problem. Like nursing social work has to be a vocation!

- Conspiracy Theorist, London

I don't want to be seen as one of those standing on the side lines braying for blood but how many signs did Social Services need that this poor soul was being brutalised? - end of finger and fingernails missing - cuts, sores and bruises all over his head - HELLO - NEON SIGN REQUIRED? !!! Added to which the insult of chocolate over the face to hide the signs - is that all it takes to put these people off the scent - nobody heard of soap and water?! By the horrendous pictures in the press, the poor mite must have been dipped in the stuff!
Sorry but JOBS SHOULD BE LOST here. Still, it doesn't relieve one minute of the baby's suffering though does it. May he find some rest where he is now.

- Sara, London

The enquiry into the death of Maria Caldwell in 1975 declared that it MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. How many more deaths before we see proper child protection and a cull of those who fail to do the protecting?

- Bj, London

I couldn't even read the details of this case in the papers and was even more stunned at the lack of responsibility/accountability of those who could have intervened to save Baby P. I am deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life and hope that those involved in this case can sleep with clear consciences at night. I for one know that I would find it very hard to look myself in the mirror without feeling that my hands too are tainted with this baby's blood.

- Sharon, London

They're civil servants - they can do what they like without facing the sack.

- Iain, Covent Garden

Cameron is right,the social workers that failed to see that this child was being abused should be sacked! How many more children are going to suffer in this horrific way?

- Triffidqueen, Desk in London

kneejerk-tastic. Does he think that Social Services don't have the best interests of the child foremost at all times ? These three lied and connived at every turn as well as killing the child. How about charging all three with murder and giving them 30 years apiece if found guilty. that'll stop child abuse quicker than any investigation, witchhunt or firing of social workers ever will. 60 visits kind of implies a problem was suspected but social workers are damned if they take action and damned if they don't a lot of the time.

- Squiz, Islington

Add your comment