murder london year old girl november february tortured murdered guardians death led public inquiry produced major changes child protection policies united_kingdom born left country great aunt french citizen education france travelled arriving london april known exactly started suspected worsened met moved boyfriend abuse burnt cigarettes tied periods longer hours hit bike chains wires death police social services department local authorities local churches contact noted signs abuse judge trial following death described incompetence failed properly investigate case little action taken manning convicted murder sentenced life imprisonment death parties involved case widely criticised public inquiry headed lord ordered discovered numerous instances saved noted organisations involved care badly run discussed racial aspects surrounding case participants black subsequent report numerous recommendations related child protection england death largely responsible formation child matters initiative introduction children act creation project government database designed hold information children england defunct closure government creation commissioner chaired children commissioner england life born november near fifth seven children parents wife francis aunt born july lived france sons claiming welfare benefits divorced husband died attending brother funeral visited family october informed wanted child france arrange education sort informal common family society apparently happy chosen parents met times satisfied arrangements point onwards pretended daughter originally planned young girl called anna parents changed minds travelled french passport known anna life united_kingdom known exactly started parents received messages left death saying good health left possibly november flew paris france enrolled school december began receive warnings february school issued child risk social worker involved school observed tended fall asleep class later recalled mentioning suffering form condition visit school march head wearing wig left france owed authorities paid child benefit claimed viewed useful tool claiming benefits evicted home france rent united_kingdom april left france travelled united_kingdom settled west london reservation bed breakfast lived moved road london borough april visited distant relative marriage preacher daughter noted wearing wig looked small april visited seen homeless persons officer winter completed housing application form explained wearing wig short hair explanation accepted winter winter shown passport photograph anna paid attention believing application ineligible grounds residence winter confirmed decision duty senior told eligible housing social worker assessment team produce written electronic documentation helped double checking accounts gave april early july visited social services times housing financial purposes occasions staff noted appearance staff member thinking looked like child advertisement action assumed appearance attempt persuade authorities hand money june got job park hospital month effort social services educational activities june took local surgery practice nurse carry physical examination reported current health problems middle june spending majority days home met job hospital evidence treated badly time cameron occasions cameron observed small cuts fingers questioned cameron said caused razor blades played met street june early signs deliberate physical harm noted cheek said caused fall june response seen days earlier visited home thought accommodation unsuitable june anonymously social services expressing concern situation customer service officer received stop shop house children social work department day picked friday afternoon happened according lord headed subsequent inquiry subject bizarre contradictory evidence inquiry heard days later possibly june social services sure concerns addressed said told person end telephone probably social services trigger new separate seen weeks later july group administrative officer logged details computer details injuries said delay constituted significant missed opportunity protect team manager intake duty team said completed duty manager action sheet june said arrived office june case called version events wholly unbelievable said armstrong evidence line witnesses quality left desired armstrong insistence dealt june attempt cover team handling genuine child protection case june met born october bus driving start manning relationship ended time arrest months later girlfriend relationship developed quickly july moved manning bedroom flat london borough evidence abuse increased soon moving manning flat july social services sent letter staying informing home visit july social workers visited address found answer moved july inquiries property led trail whereabouts prior visit background checks idea investigating report suggests reports follow notes information additional notes address moved hospital admission july took cameron house asking permanently manning want cameron refused agreed night cameron son patrick daughter observed numerous injuries including burn face loose piece skin hanging right said self inflicted manning account subsequent inquiry differed said hit beginning progressing fist end july highly likely injuries result deliberate physical harm day july cameron daughter took french teacher son school advised taken hospital day took emergency department seen senior house officer department took history thought strong possibility injuries non accidental hospital child protection guidelines referred case conducted examination believed going examined team report said exhibited sound judgement care victoria referring immediately arrived ward examined noted injuries asked injuries said self inflicted claim think credible notes detailed thorough contrast doctors examined having examined strongly suspicious injuries non accidental decided admit ward doctors alerted police social services placed police protection hour protection order preventing leaving hospital told doctors injuries self inflicted doctors nurses suspected injuries non accidental consultant named child protection doctor hospital diagnosed decided caused injuries diagnosis speaking later admitted mistake doctor wrote social services saying child protection issue child protection officer received report injuries planned open investigation case day heard diagnosis downgraded level care judgement later expressed regret actions said inquiry expected social services follow case counsel inquiry following death later said terrible danger doctor social services hand expecting investigation result police officer allocated case child protection team decided lift police protection allowing return home told social worker children act obliged tell police protection failed manning time decision attending child protection later said need ask thought important attend learn deal child protection cases deal real child protection case responsible time took home july time july probably admitted befriended couple visited home times following months according shout time showed affection second hospital admission july taken accident emergency department severe head injuries hospital found evidence consultant felt abused wrote able discharge notes according doctor hospital written note noted exhibiting signs neglect emotional abuse physical abuse later inquiry said writing able discharge mean wanted home merely physically fit leave said subtlety distinction notes far obvious admitted inquiry expected police social services follow case brief period hospital social services took case passing social worker police officer respectively assigned case scheduled home visit august visit cancelled heard jones later said logical know said information disease evidence staff dealt inquiry jones told doctor injuries consistent belt marks claimed inquiry evidence child abuse august social worker took centre assigned confusion centre referred case henry later contacted told according henry moved borough closing case said remember conversation place day met jones social services department claimed poured boiling water stop caused cause injuries social worker police officer believed deciding injuries probably accidental allowed return home following day post hospital events august visited social services said housing issue case closed social services later described chaotic follow measure staff member hospital contacted health visitor health visitor said inquiry receive contact august wrote asking follow case said inquiry contacted denied later september sent second letter said spoke denied visit home august manning began forcing sleep bath said inquiry impression happy criticised detecting abuse manning described visit job met occasions total minutes barely speaking kept away hospitals turning instead churches said mother demons inside pastor christ offered prayers cast devil thought injuries demonic possession occasion took church run pastor suspected abused took action said inquiry told told burn pastor believe believed person possessed october january manning forced sleep liner bath later police interview manning said frequent social services november told social workers manning sexually assaulted withdrew accusation following day visits conversation housing said council accommodated children believed risk said report coincidence days conversation contacted allegations true placed victoria category jones sent letter ignored action taken manning later denied allegation police sergeant overseeing investigation claimed inquiry social workers police dealing child protection cases december january visits flat received answer speculated supervisor returned france despite evidence supervisor wrote file left area february wrote saying receive contact close case week later february closed case day died death trial february taken semi conscious suffering multiple organ failure local left mini cab driver horrified condition took straight accident emergency department transferred intensive care unit ambulance crew drove described kept saying baby baby concern manning died following day local time examined body noted separate injuries body described worst case child abuse seen burnt cigarettes tied periods longer hours hit bike chains wires life britain known local authorities social services departments housing departments child protection police teams hospitals centre local churches buried near home town arrested day died manning following day told police terrible lost child november old bailey trial death opened manning charged child cruelty murder denied charges manning pleaded guilty charges cruelty judge described people case incompetent diary manning described said matter hard hit cry signs hurt january found guilty sentenced life imprisonment judge said victoria endured truly died hands lonely drawn death went durham prison manning went prison inquiry april health secretary home secretary appointed lord chief inspector conduct statutory inquiry death given choice staging public inquiry private inquiry chose public inquiry inquiry set state inquiry actually separate inquiries called victoria inquiry statutory base pieces legislation section children act section act section police act drew involvement social services police inquiry child protection counsel inquiry inquiry based elephant castle london cost million making expensive child protection investigation british history website created evidence documents available freely inquiry launched split phases phase phase phase investigated involvement people agencies death form hearings seventy witnesses involved phase hearings began september finished july originally supposed end february late documents caused delays phase inquiry taking place march april took form looked child protection system general chaired brought experts aspects child protection controversy appointment controversial director council social services department department strongly criticised handling child abuse case making finding injustice father child case said appointment don qualifications experience able lead investigation borough failing protect child exactly manner authority failed protect child liberal democrat spokesman said findings case rise questions lord appointment head inquiry spokesman said think government maybe thought twice maybe think said fully confident right person conduct inquiry evidence documents submitted late suspicious circumstances inquiry report submitted late presumed document relevant inquiry report produced april handed inquiry earlier report social services heavily relied inquiry said service users generally served report said report presented overly positive picture social services particularly children services documents received late council handed case documents months hearings began said shows blatant disregard work inquiry people involved threatened disciplinary action time council produce documents time led chief executive long sad sorry saga missed dates missed warned senior managers access documents enjoy unfair advantage inquiry said determined given advantage inquiry found contradictory information files file said case accepted ongoing service whilst computer record death said action taken suggesting possibility records changed documents given inquiry altered provided original documents alterations saying originals lost originals later produced pressure inquiry held internal investigation found evidence deception findings hearings inquiry heard councils poorly managed chief executive council said social services department seriously inquiry told cases social services closed inspection social services children placed bed breakfast accommodation children need turned away inquiry heard previously ordered work children handling case councils diverted million million respectively years social services department services education purposes budgets children services totalling causing deteriorating child protection services inquiry heard council failed assign social workers children short period took case january failed assign social workers children council wrote letter claiming social workers gave evidence questioned harshly witnesses condemned letter saying tolerate covert attempt influence way inquiry conducted director social services april march responsible restructuring department according union virtually child protection service received contact senior practitioners team managers criticising proposals potentially dangerous detrimental people offer service richardson provided substantive response memorandum inquiry blame lay line management responsibility chief executive chairman said prevent death contrasted willingness accept responsibility saying willingness acknowledge error root progress called inquiry convicted murderer appear person public inquiry initially refused answer questions protested innocence french raising voice anger english giving evidence video link prison manning apologised actions said fault agencies died broadcasters applied access video refused application parents gave evidence present hearings distressed hearing plight seeing pictures injuries blamed council chief executive death junior worker nineteen months child protection experience took case found mistakes case accused employer making criticised superiors department guiding properly inquiry heard taking cases guidelines allow supervisor initially refused attend hearings subsequently gave vague responses inquiry said suffering mental illness time child taken care months death said meetings spent time discussing experiences black woman relationship god child protection cases frequently absent admitted read file properly removed november found professionally unfit job replaced new supervisor accused maintaining standards removing important document recommended case closed file february day news death known denied said read file inquiry heard number child protection police officers reduced increase number murder investigation officers stephen lawrence case detective inspector supervising child protection teams london time death wrote report criticising boss claimed lying said held purely administrative responsibility teams detective inspector taken hospital woman poured ink head new chief executive apologised case racial considerations opening speech september said race played case fact black child murdered black social worker police officer closely involved case black said fear accused racism led hearings african caribbean admitted assumptions african caribbean families influenced judgement assumed presence manning stemmed fear african caribbean culture respect parents director charity provides race awareness training social workers later said implicit message acceptable ethnic minorities receive poor services guise superficial cultural sensitivity absolutely allows people argue good practice compromised anti racism contrasting outcomes white black staff members involved large number black staff finger blame pointed don end jobs local authorities institutional racism operates home secretary said seen widespread evidence social workers taking action cultures child abuse absolutely clear social workers social work departments responsibility consider children subjected harm think action chapter report following inquiry looked issue aftermath report phases inquiry completed began writing final report report published january found agencies involved care failed protect occasions workers involved case prevented death particularly condemning senior managers involved day launch report mother sang daughter favourite song tribute page report recommendations child protection reform regional local committees children families set members groups involved child protection previously local authority managed child protection register list children believed risk national register existed combined local authorities tendency suppress information child abuse cases led implementation child database organisations improve care children set time report published criticism agencies following victoria death agencies case child services system general widely criticised said failing service failing service fox said case amounted shocking tale individual professional failure incompetence said terrible sense weaknesses led mistakes missed opportunities save tortured child life labour_party member parliament said families unit told hundreds cases waiting happen victoria inquiry highlighted easy vulnerable families fall net especially english language highly mobile document superseded set child protection guidance doctors nurses said evidence nurses receive proper training areas chief inspector social services said doctors police officers teachers thought responsibility help social services distinct role play president said health professionals engaged child protection inquiry feeling senior managers managed escape responsibility junior staff members punished said majority children die abuse neglect country know family friends abuse occurs society denial hard truth criticism report report criticised narrow focusing particular case general child protection according professor social work report focuses heavily implementation new structures fails understand keen child protection work demands criticised approach child protection focusing worst cases trying prevent having approach celebrates success said focusing individual case basing reforms deeply problematic responded criticism recommendations require funding saying arguments lacked intellectual dismissed claims reforms bureaucratic guardian said report address issues staff said believe inquiry reports positive difference child protection system confidence lord report guardian discussed media attention surrounding case noticing sensational events received widespread coverage important exciting events received states independent national newspapers gave significant coverage evidence hearings possible explanation given evidence concerned social services papers view politically correct waste money august fined found guilty deliberately failing attend inquiry parents speaking family friend said family expected dealt severely time person prosecuted attending public inquiry september sacked following disciplinary procedures education secretary added act list banning working children october appealed dismissal saying manning medical reports badly advised managers people failures appeal rejected appealed ban preventing working children won case appealed ban preventing working children won decision challenged high_court prevailed police officers involved case faced misconduct charges kept jobs received dropped misconduct charges council held debate council chambers discuss report parents invited speak council council leader denied permission pressure opposition local press got decision reversed reversed decision meeting driver rushed escort francis interpreter council meeting attacked council interpreter handling case especially dealing later went director government placed social services department special measures requiring close supervision social services allegations emerged senior managers ignored child abuse cases hostile social worker sought expose abuse parents created charity seeks improve child protection policies organisation build school involved child protection reforms playwright wrote play based events staged empire death commentators discussed history child protection abuse death cases noting public inquiries child abuse comparing case especially pointed children abused killed guardians years agencies involved care let noted similarly deaths led inquiries reform policies reforms saved children killed following pointed average children killed parents year figure years death provoked criticism communications failure expressed possibility reforms different director operations example said victoria tragic case latest sad roll child deaths leading fresh inquiries new recurring set recommendations deputy leader said script kind traditional minister goes insist happen responsibility pinned line staff sacked advance criticisms poor communication earnest recommendations better possible restructuring council officers new appointments changed case began looks earnest voices crack compassion essential changes united_kingdom regulate social services pointed times council rated star time deaths child protection changes death largely responsible changes child protection england including formation programme initiative designed improve lives children introduction children act act parliament provides legislative base reforms creation database designed hold information children england wales longer operation creation post children commissioner heads commissioner national agency serving children families
Murder of Victoria Climbié