Britain unveils laws to protect children
The government unveiled legislation that will require every local authority to set up a multi-agency Children’s Trust Board.
Balls said the new measures would bring a “strengthening of accountability” to child protection around the country.
But he added they would not solve the issues raised by the death of Baby P, who died in August last year after suffering more than 50 injuries despite repeated visits by the authorities.
Haringey Council in north London is under fire for its handling of the case, which came seven years after Victoria Climbie was murdered in the same area. Balls said: “I don’t think we are saying for a moment that the Children’s Trust Boards and these measures would in themselves have prevented what happened in Haringey.”
The minister played down growing calls for a public inquiry into Baby P’s death, although he insisted he had not ruled it out. He said the ongoing investigations into child protection in Haringey and across the country were the best way of responding to the tragedy, adding: “What people want is action rather than endless reviews.” Referring to a public review, Balls said: “I actually think that would delay the action which needs to be taken, if that is the conclusion we draw out of the report.”
Children’s Trust Boards will be responsible for improving the safety and well-being of all children and young people in local areas. Made up of the local authority, health services, police, schools and other agencies, they will be legally required to agree and implement a children and young people’s plan.
This will set out local strategies for child safety arrangements. Documents listing every injury suffered by Baby P in his short life were revealed yesterday. The dossier charts the 17-month-old boy’s full medical history, with 78 entries showing the extent of his contact with social services, medical staff and police.
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