REASSURANCES were today being sought from social services in Suffolk over its child protection strategy following national outrage at the death of a baby in London.
REASSURANCES were today being sought from social services in Suffolk over its child protection strategy following national outrage at the death of a baby in London.
Two men and a woman were convicted yesterday of causing or allowing the death of a 17-month-old boy in Haringey, north London, in August 2007, and it has sparked a major review.
The tot was under the care of the same council which was heavily criticised in the wake of the murder of Victoria Climbie in 2000.
Suffolk was hit by a similar tragedy when baby Luigi Askew was killed by his violent father Duncan Mills last year - and it is hoped the county will never suffer a second case.
Social Services in Suffolk have implemented all 33 recommendations in a report on the circumstances leading up to the baby's murder.
At the time, Ipswich MP Chris Mole said he would study the findings and added: “I would want to be assured all the agencies involved were learning lessons from such failure.”
Mills is serving a life sentence and has been told he must spend at least 18 years in prison.
The report, compiled by the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board, was aimed at preventing other children from suffering the same fate.
In Haringey, the boy - known as Baby P - died after months of abuse despite him being on an at-risk register and has sparked a major review of child protection in England.
The tot suffered 50 injuries and the case has revealed a series of failings by social workers, health workers and police.
The case is described as worse than that of Victoria Climbie, who was murdered in Haringey in 2000.
Lord Laming, who chaired the inquiry into eight-year-old Victoria's death, has now been asked to prepare “an independent report of progress made across the country”.
Suffolk social services said they did not wish to comment at this stage - a spokeswoman said officials did not want to say anything until they had studied the latest court case.
Are you confident social services is doing its best to prevent child abuse? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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