Senior council official makes apology over Khyra Ishaq death
A senior council official apologised today for the fact that social services did not save seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq from starving to death.
Tony Howell, Birmingham City Council's strategic director for children, young people and families, rejected calls for his resignation after Khyra's mother and stepfather were cleared of murder but convicted of her manslaughter.
Speaking at a press conference at Aston University, Mr Howell said: "I would like to begin by saying how sorry I am that we were unable to save Khyra Ishaq.
"It is difficult to comprehend that in this day and age a child can starve to death in Britain without anyone appearing to notice.
"But the fact of the matter is that it did happen, and it has caused a great deal of hard reflection among all the agencies in the city who have a responsibility to protect vulnerable children."
Mr Howell, who insisted that improvements had been made to Birmingham's children's social services since the death of Khyra, said he was thankful that those directly responsible for her death had been convicted.
Asked during the press conference if he felt he should relinquish his post, Mr Howell replied: "We have been working on improving children's social care for over a year now, working closely alongside Government.
"Improvements have been made. There would be no purpose served simply by resigning.
"Khyra's death has redoubled our commitment to improve support for vulnerable children and families in this city."
Mr Howell stressed that a Serious Case Review into Khyra's death was still being conducted by the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board.
"While we are not able to comment ahead of the release of the Serious Case Review, we can say that in the two years since Khyra's death, there have been major changes and improvements in the way we protect vulnerable children and in the way we work more closely with our colleagues in other agencies, particularly the police," Mr Howell added.
