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A baby boy has died after suffering suspected abuse at the hands of his teenage mother and her partner.
Police said the four-month-old child, who has not been named, was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital last Thursday, but died there on Saturday morning.
The baby's 17-year-old mother, from Islington, and her partner, 19, were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Detectives from the Met's Child Abuse Investigation Command are investigating the death after staff at the hospital alerted police last week.
A post-mortem examination is now due to take place to establish the cause of death.
Islington council refused to confirm if the baby was known to social services. However, sources said the mother was on a special programme run by Islington Primary Care Trust in conjunction with the local authority which offers support to vulnerable families.
The Family Nurse Partnership is a pilot scheme operating in the borough, which identifies young, vulnerable first-time mothers who are in need of assistance to help them through pregnancy and the first few years of motherhood.
It is a joint project between the Department of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families that sees nurses visit parents from early pregnancy until the child is two years old. The project is run by primary care trusts and local authorities at 20 sites across the country.
A spokesman for Islington council refused to say whether or not social services were involved in identifying potential mothers for the scheme, or whether mothers under the age of 18 in the borough were automatically referred to social services.
In a statement, the council said: “Islington council has been made aware of the death of a four-month-old baby boy. We are supporting the Metropolitan Police with their investigation.
“Agencies, including the council, are currently making an assessment of whether a serious case review should be carried out. That decision will be made by the Local Safeguarding Board.”
Health visitors and social workers are under legal obligations to alert the authorities if they suspect a child is being mistreated.
A spokesman for Islington PCT said: “We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of a four-month-old baby from Islington. This is a great tragedy for all involved.
“The baby's death is currently being investigated by the police and we will do all that we can to assist with their enquiries, alongside our local partners.”
The teenage suspects were released on bail until next month, pending further enquiries. Their arrests come almost two years after 17-month-old Baby P died at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger while on the at-risk register of Haringey council.
Baby Peter had suffered 50 injuries despite receiving 60 visits from social workers, doctors and police during the final eight months of his life.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said of the investigation in Islington: “On 23 July Great Ormond Street Hospital made police aware of a four-month-old boy with injuries.
“That day a 17-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of GBH. They were later bailed to return to a central London police station in August pending further enquiries by detectives from the Child Abuse Investigation Command. On 25 July the child died at hospital.”
Reader views (6)
Jackie of Malaga, you are never going to stop 17 year olds getting pregnant. Social workers may have many faults but they can hardly be blamed for teenage pregnancies. There is a lot of self-righteousness here - Frank suggesting no-one should have children under the age of 26, and older mothers who wait till they're financially secure being vilified by the press for being selfish 'career' women (for which, read, women who have no choice but to work to support themselves, just like men). I have nothing against mothers of any age - it's not about how old you are, it's about the ability to be kind, caring and nurturing (and despite the bad press they get plenty of younger parents are quite capable of this). Also, if you look at the number of children killed by parents and step parents every year, you'll find a substantial number of the culprits are in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. This baby's parents killed him because they are bad people. Not because they are teenagers.
- Ljw, london, 30/07/2009 16:55
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Once again the spotlight falls on the child protection services and why have they failed to protect this child?
Well, I ask, how has society failed this child by allowing him to be born into such a monstrous family? We as a society are failing in the promotion of, actually the insistence on, children being born into a proper family at an appropriate age, with family and monetary stability.
All attempts to prevent teenage and unplanned pregnancies have failed, and WILL fail because the State will always pay for their upbringing. And so, child after child will be born into circumstances like these where the parents are completely incapable of looking after it and see it only as a way to earn an extra few quid a month in benefits.
We need to stop tip-toeing around these subjects and start damning those who have a child without the maturity, capability or finance for parenthood.
Withdraw automatic benefits for unplanned or repeat pregnancies.
How in this supposedly so liberated and modern society, its inhabitants can't recognise when they are incapable of caring for a child is beyond me?
It's time to stop playing at being PC and start admitting that some people are unfit to be parents and should not be encouraged, because such tragic incidents like this are the result of such encouragement!
- Steven, London, 30/07/2009 16:30
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Tragic. These people are not mature enough to have children at 17 / 19. It never works out and they always end up having children from different partners. Nobody should be having children under the age of 26. It's not fair on the children and not good for society. We should pass a law stopping teenage pregnancies and you will see a fall in crime.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark, 30/07/2009 15:18
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A 17 year old with an 18 month old baby, this is where the problem begins...
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 30/07/2009 14:57
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You need a licence to drive a car but not to be a parent. I despair. Perhaps the Chinese are right after all (although they seek to limit births and not to check on the qualifications for parenthood).
- Jb, London, 30/07/2009 14:56
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This is disgusting, when are these poor children going to be protected from these evil people. It keeps happening over and over again, why do they employ morons to work for social services who can not be bothered to do their job and protect these defenceless children. Social services are a load of idiots.
- Jackie, malaga spain, 30/07/2009 14:38
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