§ Margaret MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many part 8 reviews have been carried out by the Metropolitan police on incidents of domestic violence since the inception of the system. [11205]
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§ Mr. DenhamWhen a child dies, and abuse or neglect are known or suspected to be a factor in the death, local agencies should consider whether there are lessons to be learned from the tragedy about the ways in which they work together to safeguard children. Consequently, when a child dies in such circumstances, the area child protection committee should always conduct a review into the involvement with the child and family of agencies and professionals.
Additionally, the area child protection committee should always consider whether to undertake a serious case review where a child has sustained a potentially life-threatening injury through abuse or neglect, serious sexual abuse, or sustained serious and permanent impairment of health or development through abuse or neglect, and the case gives rise to concerns about the way in which local professionals and services work together to safeguard children.
The Metropolitan police service does not carry out serious case reviews themselves, but like any other agency, they may be asked to undertake a management review off its involvement with a child and family as part of the case review process.
The conduct of such reviews is the responsibility of the area child protection committee for the area in which the child, who is the subject of the review, was normally resident.
In five serious case reviews to which the Metropolitan police service has contributed, a history of domestic violence between the carers prior to the death of a child has been identified.