• Baby P staff could face the sack as watchdog launches new probe
• What the councillor for children’s services said
• Viv Groskop: The lesson of Baby P - never leave a child at risk
• Ticking boxes and filling in forms is just no way to be a social worker
• Shoesmith accused by faith school parents

Reader views (79)

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She a long with all involved should go they do not have a clue i could do there job ten times better an ordinary Mum. No child should be left in danger get rid of the at risk no child should be at risk! as for scum who think baby equals benefits for drink and drugs they need to go too! there simple as everything make it complicated so we do not understand! zero tolerance on child abuse and useless parents.

- Lisa Fowley, northampton

I run a National support organization, called Parents Against Injustice, we give advice and support too parents and carers who feel that they have been wrongly accused of child abuse, we campaign for the rights of parents within Parliament and are currently trying to get the secret draconian family courts opened up for public scrutiny with John Hemming MP.
We as a group are appalled, at the way Haringey Social Services, the so called child protectors have once again failed in their duties, too protect a vulnerable child, which tragically led too his death.
I demand and ask that Sharon Shoesmith resigns from her job as Director of children's services, and I urge every county counsellor in the country too back our cause, as they are corporate parents, and have responsibilities for children's services, throughout the country, whether they are aware of this clause is debatable.
We have had Cleveland, Rochdale, The Orkney Islands, Victoria Columbie and now the baby P. Inquiry after inquiry costing millions of pounds, at the tax payers expense, nothing is ever learnt from past experiences, Social workers are never made accountable for their actions and should be suspended forthwith, and struck off the register, never being allowed too practice again.
Sharon Shoesmith and team HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME.

Alison Stevens Parents Against Injustice.

- Alison Stevens, Leicester UK

No ifs buts or maybes - Sharon Shoesmith is a clown and does not deserve to be in the position she is - fire her - fire her now...

- S Kluzniak, Aberdeen, Scotland

i cant think of any words to describe how i feel about the things that have been done to this little boy cause there are none.when will scum like this realise how precious a child is and the so called social workers and doctors to sit up and take notice rest in peace little one.

- Mary, glasgow

I am so saddened by the suffering this poor little boy endured at the hands of those sadistic bullies.Yet again another horror story with social services saying "lessons will be learned" so do we wait until the next innocent child is killed? I think this is a chance for the people of this country to protest on such a scale that even this inept government will have to do something. When did the toture and murder of a little child become a 'social problem' with social workers responsible for their safety? Make it a criminal offence and let the police take over, they could have arrested the boyfriend, removed the child and he'd still be alive today. The law needs to be changed to give the police back the power to do this, not rely on social services. So lets start a campaign via marches, letter writing, anything we can to change this appalling system. Because it will happen again if we leave these morons in charge of child protection. I believe there is a campaign in the Sun newspaper and on Facebook. I feel so strongly about this I will do anything to ensure "lessons are learned".

- Vicki Saade, Bournemouth UK

Every child on the "at risk" register should be seen and examined every single week by a doctor, nurse or social worker trained in child protection. No excuses, no missed appointments. Failure to turn up for the appointment should trigger an immediate care order and police involvement.
We owe at least this much to memory of Baby P who was let down by almost everyone who was supposed to help him.
Only the police come out of this with any credit.

- Sarahn, London, UK

If this had been a tory council the tv and papers would be awash with labour mp's calling for heads to roll. Their collective silence speaks volumes. Labour cant sack anyone if they do wrong, because if they do it once the floodgates would open.

- David P Fitzgerald, Coventry

These are the people who make laws preventing loving people from fostering because they like to smoke a cigarette in the garden from time to time.

- Ted, London

Max term of imprisonment for this offence is 14 years. Bet you all that these thugs get about 7. Take off the time in custody and being good prisoners they will be out in 3. Sounds fair,NOT.

- Geoff, Manchester,England.

Time for Boris's team to have a low key, informal, reassuring, and immediate, if cursary, look at the running and accountability of ALL 'public bodies' within
'his' London boundaries.
If government beaurocracy ain't working, or is, more dangerously, cruelly working against innocents, then he must point his friendly fat finger at such catastrophicly inexcusable negligence.

- Dave, cumbria

The Sun newspaper has set up a petition, calling for all those involved in the case to be sacked.

- Rachel, Yorkshire, UK

If the third person guilty of this repugnant crime can be named (Owen) what are the legal reasons for not naming the mother and boyfriend. The identities are almost inevitably going to reach the public domain on the internet anyway. Please someone, why are we not told properly who these scum are, in what public interest are they being protected?

- Mark, Bournemouth England

I believe that in view of the previous mess made of the enqiry into Victoria Clumbie's death when everybody got exonerated, the Social Workers and the Head of Childrens Services should all be suspended pending the final results of the enquiry or should be SACKED

- Edward Groves Ex London, Wimborne , UK

mrs shoesmith just does not care, she is arrogant, and should go

- John Rooney, lincoln england

I am sick and mortimized by this un necessary death its like there is no one to protect children as the local govt is so scared of govt guidleines i cannot comprehend how no one has been sacked this is just total total incompetence and the govt has to intervene they failed they must now go they being the social workers who failed the young child their bosses and the head boss or do we wait for another death and another report what is the point if we do not learn anything from this. That dreadful woman sharon shoesmith does not believe they did anything wrong not stopping the death of an unprotected minor is wrong they believed the mother time and time again how much more evidence do they want how many injuries on that young child it makes me cry

THE PUBLIC HAS TO ENSURE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS I AM NOT A TORY BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY CAMERON WAS SO SO ANGRY YESTERDAY.

WRITE TO YOUR MPS START YR PETIONS SPEAK TI ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT BEING PRO ACTIVE next time it could down yr st if u live in haringey

- Lucy, London

I find it absolutely extroadinary that some of the individuals involved in the previous Climbie case are still working in the Haringey Social Services and sums it all up pretty nicely... These people should have been removed from post years ago... It's a disgrace... They have as much responsibility for what has happened and should have been in the dock alongside those convicted... To me they are just as culpable... The sooner we start holding these individuals to account the better.. If it means locking them up to prove a point then so be it...

- Jim, London, UK

If the social workers spent even 10% of the energy on the little boy as they inevitably will covering their own backs then the little boy would doubtlessly be alive today. The coldness of Mrs Shoesmith is frightening. Is she really in charge of investigating and protecting the vulnerable children of Haringey? Evidently she is doing a terrible job. Do the decent thing! resign

- Sue, London

Haringey is an incompetent local authority. We pay high council taxes as well as very charges for other services eg car parking but receive truly awful public services. The senior officers all receive high salaries for doing very little. I will be happy to see Haringey council shut down and the borough functions transferred to adjoining authorities.

- David Wallin, Muswell Hill

No mention of the increasingly useless & marginalised NSPCC and its hapless management, who were involved in the Climbie tragedy, but weren't available to assist, as they were having an office party. You would imagine that, since that disaster, any child in Haringey would have received special attention from them and its ludicrous 'Full Stop' campaign, but no; heads are well below the parapet.
This feckless and toothless organisation needs a root and branch re-structure, including an effective CEO, a new Board of Governors and a thorough review of its activities; this last to ensure that it concentrates less on glitzy, expensive advertising and much more on field activity. Then its child protection remit might be fulfilled properly.

- Gerry, Marlow, UK

I've been avoiding reading this story up to now as I have a toddler the same age and even the headlines make me sick. I can imagine the desperate pain, the bewilderment, the misery, the wretchedness, the fear, the desolate crying of this poor little boy, but this lady obviously doesn't give a fig. The whole situation beggars belief. Let's be clear that whereas the death of baby P is the direct fault of the 3 people charged, to sit back and let it happen is criminal negligence.

The whole council system needs to be taken completely out of the hands of party politicians, cleaned out, broken down and reconstructed with professionals who are good at the jobs. All council workers need appraisal by an independant body and the dead wood got rid of. Local councils are a sinecure for the incompetent, the unintelligent, those who gave up caring and trying years ago because they are confident they won't be got rid of - and these people drag down the good guys with them.

- Claire, London

There's only one possible explanation for the perpetrators of the horrendous cruelty upon a defenceless baby, not being identified, and that is, for their own protection, just in case some members of the public decide to do what the justice system will no doubt fail to do, and that is to punish them.

More than 60 visits by social services and nothing done? They should all hang their heads in shame, every one of them, for they have failed in their duties as human beings, let alone as "professionals".

- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK

This is just too sickening....she, and her department, even make the bankers and politicians look competent.

As head of "Child Services" what worse can happen than a child die? What greater failing can there be? If she honestly believes that no one did anything wrong in her department then that questions the whole point of her department.

Honourable people resign even if it is not directly their fault, they take responsibility for their department. Admittedly Politicians don't set a great example.

- Guytom, London

Please ,please dont let this woman walk away. The head of any organisation is responsible for their department, and if that department isnt 'fit for purpose', then they, as any other head must go. Thats sacked, not bought off as Met Cheif Blair was.How Shoesmith has no shame, I just cant imagine.

- Rick, chislehurst

We live in a country where there is no morality left - Blair is a millionaire, Police Chief Blair gets a reward, Brown the useless chancellor becomes PM by default etc. No more needs to be said. We are lost.

- Frederick, London, UK

Quote ... The uncle of a woman who lived in the same house said: "The baby was being tortured - he would be hit in the genitals with the back end of a shoe. It was more like an experiment - what else can we do to this child before it gives out? He was left in soiled nappies until his backside bled. He never had a life."

I have to ask ... the people who apparently knew what was going on ... did they actually report their fears at the time, or have they just popped up out of the woodwork now that it's big news? This isn't the first time I've wondered about this as it seems to me that whenever these things come to light, you start hearing about people who knew or had suspicions and nothing happens at the time.

Irrespective of that, 60 visits and nothing was done. Sounds like complete incompetence at all levels.

- John, London

This lady's attitude is becomming more and more typical of large areas of the public sector - they take the money, the pensions, the hoidays, the job security etc, but do not take responsibility. She is responsible for her team, had the team acted the child would be alive. She should be fired and receive no compensation.

- Jeremy E, London

Just to advise you that a march is being planned to take place on the 13th December 2008 between 12pm and 3pm - marching from the Houses of Parliament to 10 Downing Street. Date possibly to change to the 12th - to be confirmed. Similar marches possibly to be scheduled across the country at the same time.

The march has only just been announced and is already picking up support across Facebook. Please, please support the march. We need to get justice for Baby P and all other children treated this way. People are disgusted by what happened and want to make a difference. As well as the petition organised by The Sun newspaper, the march will provide people with the opportunity to put words into action.

This will be a peaceful protest, consisting of mothers, fathers, families and decent citizens wishing to make their voices heard.

If you have a Facebook account, you can view the details online.

- Emma R, London

Dear Chief Executive (or whatever you call yourself these days) of Haringey council, I know a quick way for you to save your long-suffering council-tax payers £100,000 - and all for the cost of a one-way ticket to Ireland!

- Brian Clacey, Croydon

Thing that galls me is that everyone is disgusted by this whole God awful story but those responsible will ultimately walk free. The social service seem to be pulling off the 'walk away scot free' card and the 3 (haven't a word for them) who carried out the atrocities will, in all probability, be back out on the streets within a few years. All I do know with any level of certainty is that, tragically, in a few years time we'll be at exactly the same place again reading the awful story about some other poor lost soul who has died at the hands of a sadist and we'll be left with the same clap trap we're hearing now - "there will be an enquiry" etc etc. In other words, NOTHING WILL BE DONE. Just a thought but perhaps if these perpetrators thought that in being caught they might be PUNISHED, perhaps they'd think seconds about torturing our innocents. How about involuntary sterilisation for both sexes to kick the ball off? Forgot - that's probably against their human rights - silly me!

- Sara, London

3 children in the news - all killed by their parents. One parent sectioned after a police gaff, the other charged with murder after 60 visits from social workers in 17 months - thats an average of 3.5 visits a week. In most cases of negligence, there's a rule of 'the buck stops here'. Vulnerable children in the UK are being inexcusably let down. When can we expect your resignation Mr Balls?

- Jim, London

Out at the races during office hours? No wonder babies are dying on her watch.

- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .

How do you start a petition? I think we need to start one for the sacking of those involved and the ensure the mum boyfriend and lodger cannot appeal their sentence. It will be cheaper than an inquiry.

- Maggie May, London

The real blame lies the establishment in place. These people / workers have their hands tied with politcial correctness and ultra left lunacy.

- Brandon Thomas, London UK

Haringey is a failed and incompetent organisation. I live here and there are countless examples e.g. it has one of the highest education costs per child but is down at the bottom in terms of the amount of that money that actually reaches front line teaching. The rest is swallowed up in bloated and inept "administration" (or maybe trips to Ascot). When this just wastes money it is merely annoying. But when the bureaucracy allows babies to be tortured to death in front of their eyes, then it is criminal. This social services organisation has a duty of care and has utterly and tragically failed in its obligations. The individuals concerned must be held liable. But once that's done please don't forget the dozens of other appalling departments which are failing as badly albeit not as publicly or with such immediately devastating consequences. The whole place needs an investigation and some competent management to take charge.

- Paul, Haringey, London

The lack of competence and compassion shown by this woman was repeated by Gordon BROWN yesterday in the Commons

- C Adams, pont l abbé france.

I suspect that like Ian Blair and most other senior Civil Servants, and senior Banking Officials, she has a contract which means she gets a pay off if the contract is terminated early. Until the Government has the guts to change the standard contract to the sort that most of the rest of us have to sign, this will keep happening.

- Julie, London

If that is Shoesmith's and Haringey's idea of "good practice" the mind boggles as to what might constitute a failure.

Didn't the natural father have the baby for a number of days shortly before it's death. Did he not notice something was wrong?

- Simon, London

Shoesmith is a standard labour product. Obsessed with her position, the rules and process she has made that keep her in power. The effect of her service is of minimal interest. She is the Orwellian face of Labour, maximum concern to keep power and money, minimum accountability, and minimal real concern for people. Always insisting on fairness as labour defined, and that definition keeps being moved. A simple example is train overcrowding. It was 110 people per 100 seats. Further overcrowding was easily dealt with by revising numbers, so over 130 people per 100 seats is now overcrowding!
Unbelievable, yet true. It would be to insane to be made up.

So Shoesmith is part of a Labour process, following her own guidelines, investigating herself, and reporting she and her department did a good job. Only the guidelines are rubbish. Brown has created a voter state, and signed up the UK taxpayers to pay salaries and super pensions for Shoesmith and an extra million people called civil servants and quangos. But the reality is that taxpayers are the servants with less secure jobs for less pay, with less pension. Sack the doctor who was supposed to examine the child, and did not. Shoesmith should personally sack all involved, and then herself resign or be fired. That is what would happen in the real world. Baby P died because of Shoesmith and Labour Orwellian insanity.

- Jim, london

Why are you publishing a picture of her at the races? What has this got to do with the case?

- Ken Joralemon, london, UK

I tell you what makes me sick - that's all these people suddenly coming out of the woodwork about what was happening to that baby. Why didn't they do something about it at the time? Its seems odd that they appear completely at ease with being on TV or interviewed smiling to the camera, going on and on about how they always knew the baby was being ill-treated. I think we all have a responsibility in these situations. It only takes one person to speak out...

- Flo, Bath

I totally agree with Ed in London. I cannot believe that no-one is to take full responsibility for the death of child P, who I must emphasise was already on the 'At Risk' Register. The local authority might as well close down the whole Social Services Dept at Haringey as it's obviously not worth running. I think Joe Public is, at long last, standing up and being counted. Can we get back to employing people with lots of common sense instead of Graduates with no experience of life, who think they need to take no responsibility for anything that they(don't) do. We should employ older women who have brought up their own families to become social workers. I'm sure they won't 'miss' all the obvious signs of a child being systematically abused! I don't think I've ever felt so angry about anything in my life as I do about this case. By the way, local authority workers are not civil servants. Civil servants work for central government, this shower works (and I use the word 'works' very lightly) for the local government.

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

given this little lads entire life was fully reliant on the public sector across many areas I truly hope everybody in the public sector is feeling the anger of the the country right now- you have taken the tax and the power - now take the responsibility.

- John G, London UK

I am not surprised. Social Services are notorious for their neglect and subsequent death of children who are supposed to be in their care. I used to work in family law and their lackadaisical attitude is a disgrace. This woman is an overpaid lot of nonsense who should be dismissed immediately. They are always the first to jump up and down complaining if they feel at all injured, threatening arrest and all sorts of nonsense.

- Jasmine Wok, Brighton

First, we should name them. Why do we have to protect their identity, has baby P been protected by the community? No he has been profoundly let down by these morown at Haringey Council and their staff have blood on their hands.
I hope that the mother, boyfriend and lodger rot in hell. Reopen Alcatraz and send them there. Prison is a too good for these monsters and on top of that it will be paid with the tax payers' money.

- Doudoupa, london, W13

If Haringey council "acted correctly", as councillor Liz Santry claims, then trying to protect children is completely hopeless and all the expenditure on Social Services is pointless. Is she claiming that no-one should have taken action, after 60 visits and masses of evidence of brutality against this baby?

Sharon Shoesmith should be sacked, and not with a golden handshake as usually happens - her career obviously has higher priority than the life of a mere baby. Someone in authority, and others directly involved with the case, need sacking (final warnings are too late for this) as a sharp reminder that such failure to protect a child cannot be allowed to happen again (it has already happened twice under Haringey's jurisdiction).

How can this uncle who lived in the house, describe the horrors inflicted on Baby P without feeling shame and self-loathing at not reporting them to the police? His apathy is surely criminal negligence.

- Stan, Derby

From my experience in local government over 32 years is that the most able, dedicated and streetwise officers are never given their head - they nearly always are passed over by academic bull****ters and those who make it a life ambition to ride the greasy pole whilst at the same time brown nosing and ingratiate all that might help them reach the top. Whilst we have chief officers and others in social service departments who have not a whif or a clue how the other half live then they are likely to repeat these awful mistakes when a young life pays the ultimate price. You have to set the proverbial thief to catch a thief and whilst we give preference to the well-heeled,university educated,policy orientated enthusiasts instead of the(still qualified) social service bloodhounds who are unlikely to be put off the scent of child in danger - were not going to get much further. When you are dealing with this culture you don't sent a 'toff' in to sort it out.

- John, Leighton Buzzard, Beds

There appears to be a deafening silence from those people who are responsible for the activities of the staff of the social services department. The Councillors of Haringey have been elected by the people of their Borough to manage the Council and should be held publicly accountable.

- Patrick Griffin, Dalston, London

Does anyone know how to set up a petition to get rid of stupid people like these who are over paid for a job they "DON'T" do? if so please post it as I'm sure you'll be over whelmed with signitures.

- Sarah, London

Name and shame everyone who is involved.

- Jaberwokie3, switzerland

She shouldn't resign, it wasn't an error of judgement. She should be prosecuted and sacked. Anyone could have seen this child was in serious danger and her not holding an enquiry was her way of covering up her teams negligence and apathy which led to this poor little boys death.

Lets hope the publicity does not pass, not for a long time and preferably not ever because we will just keep seeing the same things over if we ever let this case slip from our minds

- Pod, Birmingham

I read the articles in the press about this and I listened to the discussion in the House of Parliment yesterday. David Cameron is right and the UK should be ashamed to its core that not only could something like this have happened, but that the current government is willing to let no one be held ultimately culpable. I further read that the mother of the child was reported to have told friends that she expects to be home before Xmas... now if that happens there is no hope left for the UK!

- Harvey, Barbados

What a country the uk is becoming to live in....when I moved here in 87 I remember a story of little Lucy (think that was the wee girls name)...it was horrific what happened to that little girl and I also remember social services etc saying lessons would be learned from her death...well bless that little girls heart as it seems in 21 years nothing has been learnt...evil people are still allowed to keep harming and killing their children....if these poor souls had been animals the cruelty would have been stopped a long time ago....all the people involved in this case should be sacked and new staff appointed, cut the bull and just do it as it's unacceptable what has happened here " again"

- Sarah, London

Why dont we just sack all Social Workers with their fancy college degrees and replace them with grand parents who have real life degrees?

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

ah yes just looking at my diary, yes I have to do a home visit on a child at risk for the 60th time. Right let me see does the house smell of piss, yes, look at baby, bleeding from ears bruising on face, gouge in head, ends of fingers missing, bleeding from ears, broken back. tick not at risk, show manager yes great, show boss of boss ok no problem. Go home have tea and dont give a crap....... We have 3 children one of which is two, we have had one visit from a health visitor, so our child is ok and doesnt need a referal to social services, how come a child has 60 visits in 18 months and is still not at risk? If I took my car for an mot and it failled 60 times I might just think something is amiss..... When social workers do an HND in social work which page says on the 60th visit it might be time to be a little concerned? was it multiple choice. My excuse for not saving this poor little chap is I am not a social worker and I wasnt there, what is their excuse?

- James, wiltshire

Of course her actions now speak volumes of her inability to do her job.
Remove her immediatly and all other guilty and inadequite parties to this shameful case.

- Anthony, bournemouth

How sad that we demand the resignation and sacking of BBC radio employees over some silly incident but the head of Haringey and her totally incompetent staff still have a job. After reading the report this poor on this poor child's life I cannot understand how any them could even contemplate staying in post.

- Linda Theobald, London

Would the identification of Baby P and his mother and step father not help an enquirey better than this undercover squabble? At least it would be in the open. There's a lot more we need to know about baby P and those who made his short life a career of pain and fear.

As for who should go or who should stay, who should be sorry and who should be shamed, remember little Victoria, one woman fell and the system was supposed to be mended. Stop squabbling and build a new and reliable system that will protect little children and vulnerable people.

- Maria, London

At least the little boy is safe and at peace. Meanwhile let those responsible die in jail or better it is time that we look at introducing dead penalty for this kind of crime.
As for the people working to help kids like Baby P they should be sacked and never be allowed to work again, enough is enough, justice in this case has to be done for everyone to see.

Little Baby P my heart felt sadness for your little life and while I caddle my young kids safe in a loving home I will be thinking of you....
R

- Roberto Parrotta, france

Complacency, arrogance and denial perfectly exemplified by an apparently fully qualified professional whose job could have been better done by anyone of maturity, judgement, common sense and moral courage.

- Peter Haldane, London

Even if she does get the boot, you can be sure that she'll receive a nice payoff and won't have trouble finding a similar position elsewhere.

- Jl, London

The cause of this current horrific disaster is exactly the same as the terible, inefficient, & incomeptant problems and disasters in the other departments governed by the Home Office (look at the police! look at prisons! look at immigration..Croydon Office in particular (remember?) etc., etc.
The recruitment and promotion policies in all these departments is inane, incompetant, inefficient and governed by p.c. idocy...better recruitment sensible promotion will/would reduce disaster & problems by about 80 per cent.
There will be an enquiry with a lot of comments perhaps people criticised or sacked but the necessary changes wount be made....there will be something similar in the next six months!

- Ed, london

Sharon Shoesmith is a typically arrogant council boss. They are usually appointed to these positions not because of what they know but who they know. Her only concern in this matter if she were to truly admit it is her self importance, salary and her gold-plated pension. She never had any interest in the welfare of children otherwise it would have shown itself in this case.

Yet another CEO who struts about gaily bedecked in all her finery, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

- Frances Fenty, Ellon Aberdeenshire

All those public 'servants'involved in this dreadful situation should be suspended pending the results of the government inquiry. I cannot see any way in which Ms Shoesmith's remaining in office is tenable. This happend on her watch and now we have the wiff of cover up. The 'so a baby in our care was tortured to death, whatever move on' attitude absolutely stinks.

- Mark, Bournemouth England

How dare they come up with such a trite response. The baby "miraculously" improved when out of the family home for a month. In his entire life, he was averaging at almost one intervention a week. Each person must look to themselves. A system can only be reformed if every single voice expresses a relevant criticism. The devil truly prospers when good men do nothing.

For shame.

- David, London

Can someone please explain to me how this hardfaced, stonehearted,person got a job as a social worker, a senior one at that. Surely there must be some feeling in a person with such a child orientated position. I suppose the politically correct brigade will say you have to "detatch" your feelings. Obviously it works!!
At least baby P cannot be hurt anymore, but will we have to wait for the next one?

- Mrs. Pamela Mckay, Dagenham, Essex.

Why is the identity of these murderers being kept secret?
The 3 perpetrators should receive life i.e. till the end of their days,without parole.As for the Haringey social services-clearly we need to re-assess who is being hired into these jobs,with what authority,and responsibility.Then changes need to be made.Usually a fish rots from the "head" down.Seems that the heads at Haringey are rotten indeed.

- C.Elder, London,UK

Yes it starts from the top. The PM should have immediately ordered Ed Balls (his friend), of course) to suspend Shoesmith pending the outcome of yet another inquiry. It seems this government just will not take decisions and is tired and obstinate. Poor UK;

- Richard, Limoges France

Shoesmith appears to be back to work as usual. Her recommendation will be to add an extra tick box for staff. She's far too ambitious to ponder over BabyP's case too long and she knows the publicity will pass. By supporting Haringey Council, she is sending out a clear message of "look after me and I'll look after you". She is setting the groundwork for her next career move.

- M Coleman, Munich, Germany

If Mrs.Sharon Shoesmith cannot decide to hold an enguiry on this matter..she should be charged with being iresponsible as head of this department and dismissed.

- Raymond Turnner, Elstree

Sack her. No compensation, no redundancy, no pension. She's been grossly incompetent and acts with no contrition or shame.

- Paul, London

And the 'uncle of a woman who lived in the same house', who apparently witnessed this abuse never thought of reporting it? Doesn't that make him an accessory to the crime?

- Willstead Ash, London

My god!!!!!! i cant beieve why this board is so quiet.....????? on this matter, heads should roll on this matter ms Shoesmith should resign NOW, shame on her arrogance and her staff, dont want to rant anymore!! so distressed at this tragedy.annie

- Distraught Annie, croydon

this pathetic excuse for a public servant should be fired and be forced to repay her salary. the residents of haringey should stop paying their council tax-- money is the only thing local government is interested in these days, so they should be hit where it hurts.

- Josh, london

This is such a disgrace.. I only hope the prisoners get given the chance by some "kindly prison guards" to give this darling little angel some justice to those who abused him so badly in life. The defenceless little boy endured so much.. How could his mother let it happen?? I am besides myself with grief ..I could never let anyone hurt a hair on my little girl..to think how she must've heard his screams or the noises of baby P being hit or hit against things..I can't even go there in my mind..its beyond all possible comprehension for me. The government has to change..its policies have to cater for the real scum of society that make other lives such a misery. I'm all for corporal punishment.. I have no intention of ever doing a crime that deems that as justification so for those who do then really its tough and you get a sentence that gives the victims some justice. As this poor little boy had no one to fight for him in his life ... we have to fight for him now.and also the little girl a couple of weeks back who's father abused her for months and then finally snapped her in half over his knees.. such scum in our society.. God help us all. So Rest in peace baby P and little Amy .. may god cradle and protect you both now. May you finally know how it feels to be loved as the entire nation prays for you and holds you in their hearts.

- Claire, plymouth

If civil servants do not start to get sacked WITHOUT BONUSES then we are storing up big problems for the future. The same applies to politicians. The rot in this Country started right at the top.

- Roger, Staines

Who the hell does this woman think she is! Maybe she needs a reminder who exactly pays her wages. She is a cival servant,who is there to serve the public,which pay her salary from their tax's. Is she deluded and thinks she is above the law. She cannot refuse as legally an enquiry has to be done. Obviously she is trying to cover her back. I think there is a lot more to come out over this whole disaster. I think it is time the goverment start making changes to the whole of the social services.

- Triffidqueen, Desk in London

She should resign, immediately, and no big pay-off. Get on the job, Balls!

- Paul Freeman, London, England

Why do social services appear to take some children into care and put them up for adoption (after secret hearings) on the most spurious reasons (in some cases underlying medical reasons have given rise to the symptoms of alleged maltreatment) while other children are left to be seriously harmed. The paediatrician is a disgrace to her profession. If she had had a few days of the treatment this child had for 17 months, she would also be a bit "cranky".

- Patricia, London

What would be "beneficial" would be the firing of this woman.

- Ron C Clair, Sarasota, Fl, USA

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