Restoring confidence in child protection

The terrible treatment of seven-year old Khyra Ishaq has shocked everyone who has heard the details of the case. Today her mother and stepfather who subjected her to such appalling abuse have been sentenced. The extent of their crimes is horrific enough, yet the fact that the authorities missed several opportunities to step in and save Khyra makes the case all the more traumatic. Whenever a child’s death could have been prevented it is essential that we learn the lessons that might help improve the system and save children in future. This is why at the start of this month I wrote to the Safeguarding Children Board in Birmingham asking them to publish the full Serious Case Review into Khrya’s death. Serious Case Reviews are carried out when a child dies and abuse or neglect are known or suspected to have been a factor in the death, or when particularly serious child abuse takes...