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| Police 'culpable in Baby P case' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police mistakes meant a chance to charge Baby P's mother with assaulting him was missed several weeks before his death, an unpublished report says. | |
| Delays securing an independent medical opinion meant the six-month legal deadline passed within which to charge the mother with common assault. | Delays securing an independent medical opinion meant the six-month legal deadline passed within which to charge the mother with common assault. |
| The report into what happened to Baby P before his death in August 2007 found several police errors. | The report into what happened to Baby P before his death in August 2007 found several police errors. |
| The Metropolitan Police said it could not comment for legal reasons. | The Metropolitan Police said it could not comment for legal reasons. |
| Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said there had been a "monumental failing" by the police. | Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said there had been a "monumental failing" by the police. |
| The toddler was first taken to Whittington Hospital with extensive bruising in December 2006. | The toddler was first taken to Whittington Hospital with extensive bruising in December 2006. |
| Doctors thought the injuries were suspicious and the child was put on Haringey Council's child protection register. | Doctors thought the injuries were suspicious and the child was put on Haringey Council's child protection register. |
| The review found police did not photograph his bruises for a week and failed to photograph his home, a potential crime scene. | The review found police did not photograph his bruises for a week and failed to photograph his home, a potential crime scene. |
| Furthermore, the review found that officers did not visit the home with the social worker and kept no detailed notes of conversations with the mother. | Furthermore, the review found that officers did not visit the home with the social worker and kept no detailed notes of conversations with the mother. |
| There is no accounting for poor, sloppy police investigation Valerie Brasse, Metropolitan Police Authority | There is no accounting for poor, sloppy police investigation Valerie Brasse, Metropolitan Police Authority |
| The Crown Prosecution Service asked police to get an independent medical review of the toddler's injuries. A specialist was identified to carry it out. | The Crown Prosecution Service asked police to get an independent medical review of the toddler's injuries. A specialist was identified to carry it out. |
| But in March 2007 the detective in charge transferred to a different part of the Metropolitan Police without formally handing the case over to another officer in breach of standard operating procedures. | But in March 2007 the detective in charge transferred to a different part of the Metropolitan Police without formally handing the case over to another officer in breach of standard operating procedures. |
| With no officer allocated to the case for two months, the investigation "drifted". | With no officer allocated to the case for two months, the investigation "drifted". |
| The review said: "This might have made it more likely that all the subsequent incidents were reported to the police and that arguably the child might have been more effectively safeguarded." | The review said: "This might have made it more likely that all the subsequent incidents were reported to the police and that arguably the child might have been more effectively safeguarded." |
| Valerie Brasse, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and an adviser to the Victoria Climbie Inquiry, said the findings were "appalling" and "not acceptable". | Valerie Brasse, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and an adviser to the Victoria Climbie Inquiry, said the findings were "appalling" and "not acceptable". |
| "There is no accounting for poor, sloppy police investigation and if that is what is emerging then that is a poor investigation. | "There is no accounting for poor, sloppy police investigation and if that is what is emerging then that is a poor investigation. |
| "The issue remains though that if an investigation is poor and of that quality, what then the role of the supervisor and why wasn't that picked up?" | "The issue remains though that if an investigation is poor and of that quality, what then the role of the supervisor and why wasn't that picked up?" |
| Bruises and scratches | Bruises and scratches |
| An opportunity to revive the police investigation was missed when, in April, Baby P was taken to hospital again with more bruising. | An opportunity to revive the police investigation was missed when, in April, Baby P was taken to hospital again with more bruising. |
| Social workers did not inform the police, believing the doctor did not suspect abuse. But the Serious Case Review said they should have alerted officers. | Social workers did not inform the police, believing the doctor did not suspect abuse. But the Serious Case Review said they should have alerted officers. |
| In June 2007, when Baby P was taken to hospital yet again with extensive bruises and scratches, his social worker did contact police. | In June 2007, when Baby P was taken to hospital yet again with extensive bruises and scratches, his social worker did contact police. |
| Baby P's mother was arrested but again it was a week before photos were taken of the boy's injuries and police did not talk to his older siblings. | Baby P's mother was arrested but again it was a week before photos were taken of the boy's injuries and police did not talk to his older siblings. |
| And the review questions why the mother was not asked - at interview - who else was living in the family home. | And the review questions why the mother was not asked - at interview - who else was living in the family home. |
| This might have shed light on the presence of her boyfriend, the man now convicted with her of having caused or allowed the death of Baby P. | This might have shed light on the presence of her boyfriend, the man now convicted with her of having caused or allowed the death of Baby P. |