Probe launched after eight children die in Birmingham social services care
They were criticised in a damning report into the murder of seven year-old Toni-Ann Byfield. She was shot in the back by assassin Joel Smith at her father’s London bedsit in 2003, despite being in the care of Birmingham social services at the time.
It is thought the current crisis came to a head two weeks ago after a four month-old baby was admitted to Birmingham’s Children Hospital with suspected brain damage. Tragic Aalihya Jordan-Fellows, of West Heath, died two days later.
Her 18-year-old mother and two men, aged 20 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of assault and bailed pending further inquiries by police.
The Sunday Mercury has seen documentary evidence showing social services had been monitoring the baby’s welfare even before her birth – but closed the case two months before her death.
Last night, Midland MPs said the council needed to address its failings in child services urgently.
Mr Mahmood said: “Cases I am aware of have involved the suffering of innocent young people under the radar of the social services department. It is just not acceptable in this day and age.
‘‘There needs to be an independent review of what they have done. I believe they need to be taken over and dealt with by a Government agency.’’
Andrew Mitchell, Shadow Cabinet Minister and MP for Sutton Coldfield, said: “Any death of a child is particularly awful and upsetting. It is difficult to comment while investigations are continuing.
‘‘But clearly lessons need to be learnt as a result of a full investigation and where failures are identified, vigorous steps taken to ensure such failures don’t happen again.”
Birmingham’s crisis-hit department is led by Tony Howell, Strategic Director for Children, Young People and Families, and Les Lawrence, the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families has overall responsibility.
In a statement last night, Mr Howell, who is also Chairman of the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board, said: ‘‘Every death of a child is a tragedy, but it is an unfortunate fact of life that some parents will seriously harm or kill their children.
‘‘The number of children who have died has not increased annually and the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board remains committed to safeguarding the children of Birmingham and will want to learn any lessons from these cases.”
