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How dysfunctional families lead to the horror of the Baby P case
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
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Now, this week it has been impossible to ignore the tragic case of beautiful Baby P who died in August of last year.
As details of this terrible case emerge it has left most of us wondering exactly what is going on at Haringey Council.
For when whistleblower Nevres Kemal begged for improvements to the system in 2004, she herself was accused of common assault and placed under investigation by Social Services. In effect she could have had her own daughter taken into care. Nevres Kemal claims she was framed for contacting a doctor for help when managers ignored her concerns. She has now been fully exonerated and compensated for her ordeal but the questions remain.
Why was nothing done to rescue Baby P in 2007? Why did Haringey Council pay for a childminder to look after Baby P for 4 days a week to give his mother and her boyfriend ‘a break’? And why did Haringey Council also recommend that Baby P’s mother be allowed to keep a baby girl that was born to her while on remand for her son’s death? (The baby girl was later taken into care.)
Remember that other gorgeous, smiling little girl Victoria Climbie, who was brought to Britain by her aunt (and a boyfriend), allegedly in order to jump the housing queue in London? Young Victoria then died in appalling circumstances. Again, Haringey Council came under the spotlight for failing to protect a child in their borough.
Experts tell us that children living in dysfunctional circumstances are 33 times more likely to suffer abuse and neglect than children from, dare I say it, more stable homes. And that although abuse can happen anywhere, the facts prove it happens much more often in homes where troubled or violent visitors come and go, housework is left undone for months at a time, and extended family members are no longer in touch. Oh, this is nothing but the smug patter of snobs and stuck-up busybodies, some will say. And I used to say the same thing myself.
But look at the figures and an uncomfortable pattern emerges. Fathers who are less than devoted may become bored and bail out. Mothers left to cope alone may become depressed and socially isolated. Unruly children may grow up in gangs on street corners and then fail their school exams through a lack of adequate preparation. Faced with a lifetime on the dole these young people then attempt to form relationships of their own. Relationships that may flounder at the first hurdle. But not before a baby has been conceived and so the cycle begins again.
And before long the realisation dawns that this new child cannot be left lying in a cot for most of the day. No, this child needs constant attention and care, and clean clothing and regular meals. He needs playtime in the park and bedtime stories and help with his homework and new shoes every six months.
He needs love and encouragement and guidelines and boundaries. But what are the chances of the child getting such things if the mother herself didn’t get them? What are the chances of the child getting a decent start in life from a succession of aggressive boyfriends who feel no attachment whatsoever to him?
Of course, the vast majority of families, whether the parents are still together or not, (or whether they are working or unemployed), do their utmost to raise happy and healthy children. And even when the circumstances are seemingly perfect, children can and do go off the rails. But there are a number of damaged people in our society who have not the faintest idea of how to bring up a child. And therefore should not be left in charge of a child that is considered seriously ‘at risk’. Social Services must step in before another child dies of neglect or abuse or both.
Whistleblowers ought to be praised as heroes, not persecuted for rocking the boat. And perhaps, just perhaps, a child should be removed from a hostile home environment when a senior social worker with an excellent record (such as Nevres Kemal) thinks that they should. The current system is failing vulnerable children like Baby P, who had chocolate smeared across his face by his own mother to hide his many cuts and bruises. The gorgeous infant had his blonde hair shaved off, was severely underweight and had turned blue when he was finally found in a blood-spattered cot last August. We do not yet know the exact details of this tragic child’s background but the house itself was said to be in a desperate state, and police said the mother showed scant interest as her baby was rushed to A&E. Sadly, no amount of hand wringing can bring Baby P back to life and give him the love and care he was so cruelly denied during his short life. All we can do now is question the system that allowed Baby P’s mother to treat him as nothing but a nuisance while she spent her days ‘looking at rubbish on the internet’. Tougher sentences must be handed down by the courts, at the very least.
God bless Baby P. May the little angel now rest in peace.
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112 Comments
Totally agree with the article. Kids all too easily just have kids out of boredom or ignorance, not knowing how hard it is going to be then simply give up on them later down the line. In favour of any distractions that come their way, such as sex, drugs, alcohol, the internet etc. Many factors contribute to the state our country is in now. We need to educate children to choose a different path, not the baby=benefits=easy life. I knows its easier said than done. I've been all consumed by the poor baby p story, it is so sad and distressing to think of any child in any pain. We may not be able to change the government and the adoption laws but maybe some people out there that feel they could do a better job could come forward as foster parents and make a difference. Also, keep an eye out in your neighbourhood for anything you deem suspicious, it might just save an innocent childs life. RIP beautiful angel and all the others little ones in heaven xxx
Posted by Vicky | 14.01.09, 12:36 GMT
Having been in care myself i am fully aware of social services short cummings however blaming social workers is nt the answer maybe if the government put more money and time into childrens services than bailing out banks a better service could be provided for children and young adults.
Posted by Michelle | 02.01.09, 20:11 GMT
I too come from a battered home; however, nothing like this. I am traumatized all over again when I think of this little baby hurting and crying while he was in so much pain. May little baby P. rest in heaven, laugh, fly, run, feel all the love of the angels he now resides with that he should've always have felt. May these souless neglectfull animals pay for what they have done. ALL OF THEM! May God help the children. I am so tired of hearing about abuse and violence and murder and torture to the innocent. Something HAS to change. I love you little Angel Baby.
I send you love and light. I pray for peace and change in the system and I will ALWAYS speak up when I see abuse ANYWHERE!
Posted by Debbie | 04.12.08, 20:22 GMT
We should all be whistleblowers and watch out for signs that may protect every child.We cannot ever let this happen again,better to report and be wrong than let a beautiful child suffer as baby p did.Baby P,you will be safe now and you will never be forgotten.
Posted by a.massey | 03.12.08, 02:25 GMT
I would just like to say i think sharon is a liability! The same goes for the doctor who failed to detect his injuries and the social worker Miss Ward. There is only one sensible thing for Haringay council to do about this and that is to sack them and prosecute them for negligance. They are always saying they are sorry but the only person in all this who needs an apology is baby p and its too late so i dont know who they are apologising too!
Posted by Fiona Farquhar | 30.11.08, 23:37 GMT
so heartbroken by all this... clearly somehing needs to be changed, Haringey need some sort of help to realise what they have failed to see... they need to stop saying that they did all they could clearly they didnt.. just accept your mistakes and move on to learn for the future. obviously it shoudnt have even come to this again, history repeatining itself...
god bless that baby boy rest in peace. xx
Posted by jay | 26.11.08, 01:28 GMT
that lady who did that is not even a human being for doing that 2 a little beautiful baby, its just sooooo cruel and unfair because it wasn't baby p's fault that all that happened to him!
Posted by anonymous | 25.11.08, 22:27 GMT
r.i.p sweetheart may the angels be keeping you safe and snug now,,we'll never forget that gorgeous boy may u be at peace now xxxxxx
Posted by marie cox | 25.11.08, 20:59 GMT
This is a boldly written article in a society today where nobody is responsible for anything. I commend the author for stating the facts. Parents are to blame for most of the world's ails. May we turn to God for the truth about love and family and we will love our children and teach them honor and respect. Human life is a great gift that cannot be protected enough! Thankfully our merciful god has charge over Baby P now. Pray for all involved and for families worldwide.
Posted by Jim | 25.11.08, 17:03 GMT
R.I.P little man xox surely justice will be done?
Posted by kat | 25.11.08, 14:45 GMT
People who are not capable of looking after themselves are not fit to look after kids, why does the authorities seem to think that leaving them with their natural parents is the best option? That old rubbish ' the child is better off with its natural parents' makes me so angry. Not if the parents treat them like animals and they live in squalor, they would be better off with people who love and care for them and are responsibile and mature enough to bring up a child.
Posted by raquel | 25.11.08, 13:18 GMT
Why why Why?
Mother - i use the term very loosely
Step-whatever
Visitors - freind, social workers, health visitors!
There Human Rights - annominity!
Where are/were Baby Peters Human Rights.
We the public should have a right to know whats going on and going wrong maybe we instead of the penpushers could help fix things!
Posted by Pauline | 25.11.08, 10:32 GMT
i dno how they could do this to a sweet lil boyy like you your gawjus babeh i dno how they would wont to heart you babeh R.I.P Baby-p i miss you yr gawjus all my lv kirsty xxxx lv yuu xxxxxxxxxx
Posted by kirsty | 24.11.08, 18:10 GMT
Well written article, thank you. Let's hope the universe addresses the lack of balance here and teaches the mother a lesson she WILL learn from.
Posted by Cam | 24.11.08, 12:25 GMT
Im so sad, My heart goes out to the little man, How could his parents do this, Shame on you! He is beautiful. xx Rest in peace little man. xx
Posted by Leah James | 24.11.08, 11:57 GMT
It's hard to believe that any human being let alone a mother can do any of what darling Baby P had to suffer. Bless the little sweetheart- he will be safe and happy now as he should have been when he was alive. Love always , darling .X X X X
Posted by JANE | 23.11.08, 15:50 GMT
I agree with Rob, once a relationship has broken down or finished, a parent should think very carefully before entering another relationship. Two reasons why, the first being, the children need time to adjust to not having the other parent around all of the time, like they were accustomed to before the parent's relationship ended, and secondly, should one of the parents enter another relationship, the child's needs are not being catered to because the parent is too busy trying to make the new relationship work and then overlooks the child's needs. Children don't ask to be born so it is up to us, the parents to make sure all their needs are fulfilled to help them to grow to be healthy and responsible people with respect for others.
Posted by Anne | 23.11.08, 15:33 GMT
baby p rest in peace with the angels where no one can hurt you ever again. (His mother and those who hurt him do not deserve to walk god's earth.) I wish I could have done something to help you - you will be forever in my thoughts as the beautiful blue-eyed boy looking at me from the television screen and the newspapers. May God's light shine on you wherever you are. God bless and love you always xxxx
Posted by Kate | 23.11.08, 14:35 GMT
it makes me sick and the very throught makes me cry. That poor baby. He lived a short life and died knowing nothing about being loved. I hope he finds happiness and love now. God rest is soul x
Posted by jas | 23.11.08, 00:55 GMT
god bless sleep tight in gods arms and safe, nobody can hurt you again love you baby p , always in my thoughts, and in my heart. xxxxx
Posted by linda madgwick | 22.11.08, 17:59 GMT
112 Comments