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Police condemned by inquiry for failures over Baby P death
Anil Dawar05.11.09
A damning report into the Met's handling of the Baby P case found that officers failed to properly investigate allegations of abuse.
The internal Met report shows that the police failed to adequately probe allegations of abuse against Peter Connelly two months before he died and found there would have been a "different outcome" in the case if recommended procedures had been followed.
The report, written by chief inspector of constabulary Denis O'Connor, warns Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson to learn lessons from the case or risk a similar tragedy. Peter died in August 2007, aged 17 months, after suffering sustained abuse at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. He was found in his bloodied cot with more than 50 injuries.
A national outcry erupted after it emerged that Peter had been on Haringey's at-risk register and had been seen 60 times by professionals supposed to protect children from harm.
His mother Tracey Connelly, 28, her partner Steven Barker, 33, and his brother Jason Owen, 37, were cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing his death.
The report, written last year but only now released, found numerous failures to follow recommendations by officers from the Child Abuse Investigations Unit. The report described an incident two months before the toddler died, when a social worker visited Peter and found him covered in bruises.
The social worker reported it to police who failed to interview the mother until five days later. This was despite Peter being on the protection register and showing signs of long-term neglect.
The report said: "There was evidence of social workers effectively carrying out initial investigations on behalf of the police."
The report also accuses officers of missing vital opportunities to gather clues during the "golden hour" when the evidence was fresh by failing to attend Peter's medical examinations.
It concludes that "had there been police representation at the review case conference, there would have been a different outcome in terms of investigation of the assault and/or protection arrangements".
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The death of Baby Peter was a tragedy and we are ensuring that any lessons that can be learned to prevent another child from being placed at risk are put into practice."
Reader views (1)
Letīs face it, it wasnīt just the police who failed this little chap, everybody who was involved with him failed him completely. Nothing anybody can say or do will bring Peter Connolly back, but the people who are responsible had better make sure it doesnīt happen again.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
