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Baby P council is 'truly sorry' Baby P council is 'truly sorry'
(30 minutes later)
A Haringey councillor has said she is "truly sorry" for not doing more to protect 17-month-old Baby P who died after suffering horrific abuse. Haringey Council has said it is "truly sorry" for not doing more to protect 17-month-old Baby P who died after suffering horrific abuse.
In the first apology from the council, Liz Santry, cabinet member for children, said there had been "anguish" about what more might have been done.In the first apology from the council, Liz Santry, cabinet member for children, said there had been "anguish" about what more might have been done.
She was speaking after the council promised its own review into the failures leading to Baby P's death. It came as the north London council promised its own review - the fourth separate inquiry into Baby P's death.
The government says staff will be held "accountable" if failings are found.The government says staff will be held "accountable" if failings are found.
Ms Santry said: "For the past 15 months in Haringey, there has been a huge amount of anguish and endless discussion about what we might have done to save this little boy.Ms Santry said: "For the past 15 months in Haringey, there has been a huge amount of anguish and endless discussion about what we might have done to save this little boy.
"And I have to say also that we are truly sorry that we did not do more to protect him."And I have to say also that we are truly sorry that we did not do more to protect him.
"Our duty is to protect our children, and we did not do so in this instance. And I would like to say how truly sorry we are," she added."Our duty is to protect our children, and we did not do so in this instance. And I would like to say how truly sorry we are," she added.
She said inspectors sent by the government were visiting Haringey. Baby P's mother and two men are awaiting sentencing for causing his death.
In the meantime, a total of four separate inquiries have now been ordered into how Baby P came to die despite being on the "at risk" register and receiving more than 60 visits from health and social work professionals.
They include:
  • A government inquiry that will examine the role of all agencies in the case of Baby P including the health authority, police and Haringey Council. The review by Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary is due to make an initial report by 1 December
  • An "immediate independent review" announced by Haringey Council to examine its staff's actions and child protection across the north London borough
  • A review by the body that regulates social workers, the General Social Care Council, to look into potential breaches of its code of practice.
  • A nationwide review by Lord Laming of his own recommendations after a similar case in Haringey, when eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was tortured to death in 2000.
So far, no one at Haringey Council has lost their job over the case, but children's minister Ed Balls earlier told the BBC: "If there are failures, then there's got to be accountability."
Broken backBroken back
Baby P died after suffering 50 injuries including a broken back, eight fractured ribs and extensive bruising.Baby P died after suffering 50 injuries including a broken back, eight fractured ribs and extensive bruising.
He had been on the register of at-risk children in Haringey, and before his death was visited 60 times in eight months by social workers, police and health professionals.
After a nine-week Old Bailey trial, Jason Owen, 36, from Bromley, and a 32-year-old man were convicted of "causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person".After a nine-week Old Bailey trial, Jason Owen, 36, from Bromley, and a 32-year-old man were convicted of "causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person".
The boy's mother had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, and all three will be sentenced on 15 December.The boy's mother had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, and all three will be sentenced on 15 December.
The mother and her 32-year-old boyfriend also cannot be named for legal reasons.The mother and her 32-year-old boyfriend also cannot be named for legal reasons.