Child abuse training failures before Alfie Steele's Droitwich murder

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Report: Police failed to spot abuse of murdered boy

A report by a police watchdog found that a police force’s front-line officers were not adequately trained to identify child abuse, in the case of a nine-year-old boy who was later murdered by his mother and her partner at their home in Worcestershire in 2021. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated twenty cases where West Mercia Police had contact with the boy, Alfie Steele, and his abusers.

Alfie’s grandfather, Paul Scott, criticized the report, stating that it did not lead to any significant changes and that he continues to live in a nightmare. He expressed disappointment that despite the repeated interactions with the police, no action was taken to prevent his grandson’s tragic death. Alfie suffered months of abuse leading up to his death, with over 50 injuries on his body at the time of the incident.

The IOPC investigation also revealed that different officers or community support officers responded to each call concerning Alfie, and he was never spoken to alone. This lack of direct communication with the child prevented officers from fully understanding the extent of the abuse he was facing. The climate of fear within the family home further complicated the situation, with Alfie often being kept in bed and allegedly asleep during police visits.

Following Alfie’s death, West Mercia Police implemented changes and additional training for officers to better detect signs of child abuse and vulnerability. The IOPC recommended measures such as placing warning markers on police logs for children at risk, ensuring officers have direct contact with children during home visits, and reviewing policies related to referrals to children’s services. The force has since trained hundreds more officers to ensure that all staff understand the importance of recognizing and acting on child welfare concerns

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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