Council care probe promised after Baby P’s death

Jan 2 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Council care probe promised after Baby P’s death

A TOP-LEVEL investigation aims to prevent a tragedy like the death of Baby P from happening in Kirklees.

Leading councillors will look at the council’s care of vulnerable children in the wake of the death of the 17-month-old boy.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his abusive mother, her boyfriend and their lodger.

He died in a blood-spattered cot last August with eight fractured ribs and a broken back.

It emerged last month that Baby P, who lived in Haringey in London, had been on the child protection register for eight months before his death. Over this period social workers, doctors and police made 60 visits to the toddler and his family, but missed the chance to save his life by taking him into care.

Kirklees Conservative Cabinet member for children Clr Jim Dodds plans to review the council’s care of vulnerable children to prevent any such tragedy here.