Daniel Pelka Review

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-24106823

As we all suspected a complete white wash. Despite many professionals, like Teachers, Police Officers, Social Services being presented by overwhelming evidence that this little chap was being treated appallingly, nobody did anything. And nobody is to blame apparently. Nobody will have any sanctions made against them.

I heard something on the Today program this morning that made brought tears to my eyes. He was kept in a small wooden box, for hours on end. Part of the evidence was that little finger and finger nail marks were found inside the box, as he made desperate attempts to escape. If I close my eyes, I can see those marks.

I despair that something like this can happen in Britain today, and nobody is held respeonsible.

[B00]

No doubt "lessons will be learnt " though eh?

[emmie]

some fool actually said it, Lessons will be learned, i thought of throwing something at the radio, and shouting no they never are, stupid stupid people, supposed to care, look out for vulnerable children, adults, but they don't, social services, police, doctors all had ample opportunity, this is another vile case, and it won;t be the last.

[B00]

I'm in no doubt that the relevant bodies (social services etc) normally do a sterling job, and one which I admit I couldn't do, however It's hard not to condemn them when their failures usually have terrible consequences. And in cases like these it's not a singular failure, its a catalogue of them- how can they consistently get it so wrong on individual cases?

[emmie]

because they do, and it isn't always because they have so many cases, there is a lot of political shenanigans going on, don't interfere, keep the child with the family, it's tosh, when you read the catalogue of his injuries, the same with Baby Peter, and Victoria Climbie, then someone is not doing their job, common sense and compassion are needed, the childs needs are paramount, if there is a smidgin of doubt, they should step in,
Daniel injuries were so horrific, it's hard not to wish those who did it, dead

[pixie373]

Poor child. It really makes me feel sick. We know who's to blame- the "mother" and her partner.

[emmie]

but the powers that be could and should have stepped in long before. Injuries like this can't be explained away simply by saying that the boy was rather clumsy...

[pixie373]

Possibly. I'm not sure exactly what the excuses were- falling off settee, bike etc were some. My neighbours daughter broke her arm twice and her leg before she was three (genuine accidents). They had a visit from Social Services, but if there had been anything suspicious going on, I'm not sure how it would have been uncovered.

[emmie]

gives a good enough explanation, no one asked the boy at all what was going on at home, no one, why?

http://news.sky.com/story/1142623/daniel-pelka-missed-chances-to-save-boy

[mikey4444]

We can't bring little Daniel back, and his murderers are in jail for a long time, maybe for ever. But if the result of this Enquiry is going to be the same as all the other enquiries, then he will have died in vain.

I want to see all or some of those professionals in a court of law, to explain why they turned the other cheek. If nobody is ever going to held personally responsible, then there won't any impetus in the future for people to do their jobs properly.

Within a few days this business will disappear from our headlines, until the next time. And there will be a next time, we can all be assured of that, because everybody associated with this sad affair will have got off scot-free.

"It wasn't my fault, guv...I was just doing my job"

[ummmm]

I was questioned as a child about my numerous A&E visits.

[B00]

apparently emmie it's because he spoke little English so it was left to his mother and elder sibling to speak on his behalf, he was in effect invisible.

[pixie373]

That is true, emmie. My son fractured his tibia last year falling off a scooter. We went by ambulance to a&e, had x-rays, saw doctors, nurses, cast put on etc. Also, follow-up appointments. I mentioned to my sister afterwards that not one member of staff had asked me what happened. Every single one of them asked my son. I guessed it was to get the truth. And I'm glad they did.

[B00]

Actually, i remember once Elder Mini Boo falling off a pedal bin when small trying to get near me and the washing up I was doing and it resulted in a trip to A&E as she'd hurt her arm as she fell. I wasn't even questioned.

[chelle7272]

Being discussed on bbc news now. I know of people whose children have been remved from the home for their protection when there were far less incidents.the deciding factor being d interviews with the child themselves, and fhis action taken, as it should, whether the concerns turned out to be corrsct or not. The article says Daniel was not really spoken to as English was not his first language. For the sake of an interpreter? Which are available at my local health centre for a physio appointment never mibd a case of potential abuse..

[emmie]

Boo, children don't have to have a great command of the language to be able to explain what is wrong, not to mention why the hell didn't the social services, police or anyone get in an interpreter, they do so for prisoners, government offices, doctors surgeries, this is a massive failure all round.

[mikey4444]

Just watched your Sky link emmie. Now I am even more depressed. For example :::

27 reports of domestic violence to the Police.

Teachers noticed a pattern of injuries but failed to act.

Weight loss seen by Paediatrician but this health professional didn't recognise it.

Sorry I might be going on a bit here but child cruelty makes me so angry. The only thing that makes me angrier is for people dressed in smart suits telling TV and radio interviewers that nothing could have been done at the time mainly because they were too busy but "it will all change in the future"

Some high profile court cases and sackings would concentrate the minds I would have thought.

[B00]

I agree emmie, im just stating what the article is claiming and what the relevant bodies are using as their excuse- they spoke to the mother rather than the child.

[emmie]

you can sack people but it won't matter if the blind ethos is there,
he weighed so little when he died that you would have thought the teachers would have said/done something?

[emmie]

surely speaking with the child would have been of paramount importance.
he attended school here, so he must have had some English... he wasn't in a school full of Polish children?

[B00]

Well he turned up at school with two black eyes once, was caught stealing food from other childrens lunchboxes and was scavenging from the bins emmie, and it appears no concerns were raised by the teachers.

I genuinely don't understand how so many relevant bodies, who are paid to care for the walfare of children, failed time and time again to ignore this.