Star Hobson: Social services review report is delayed

The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review was started following the death of 16-month-old Star on September 22, 2020.

Star was murdered by her mother’s partner Savannah Brockhill – who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years following an eight week trial from October to December 2021.

Her mother, Frankie Smith, was jailed for eight years for causing or allowing her daughter’s death at the hands of her then-girlfriend Brockhill.

Star died from a blow or blows at the flat where she lived with Smith, 20, in Wesley Place, Keighley, which caused severe internal injuries.

It followed weeks and months of abuse and neglect from the women towards Star in her short life – when she died she had old injuries including a fractured and refractured leg, fractured skull, and fractured ribs, had brain injuries and was covered in bruises.

Frankie Smith and Savannah Brockhill

Five referrals were made to social services in between January and September 2020 by concerned family members and friends regarding Star’s welfare, but no action was ever taken to remove her to safety.

We also want to work closely with those reviewing the case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to understand common themes across both cases - Jane Booth, chair of The Bradford Partnership Working Together to Safeguard Children

The review into failings was due to be published this month, but now has been delayed as more work is needed on the report – with no new publication date given.

Jane Booth, chair of The Bradford Partnership – Working Together to Safeguard Children, said: “Following detailed discussions between the National Panel and the safeguarding partnership for the Bradford District we have taken the decision to do further work to the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review into how agencies responded to the events leading up to the terrible murder of Star Hobson.

“This means that we will not be in a position to publish the review in January 2022 as we had originally projected.

“Many people will be aware that a considerable amount of detailed evidence emerged during the murder trial. Not all this evidence was available to the independent author of the review.

“Both the National Panel and our partnership have agreed that this mass of evidence needs to be looked at in great depth to make sure the review’s recommendations are as robust as they can be so that learning for all agencies is captured.

“Following the trial the author has now also been able to speak directly with Star’s family and we want their views to be fully reflected in the final report.

“We also want to work closely with those reviewing the case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to understand common themes across both cases.

“We know that not being able to publish the review in January is disappointing, particularly for the family and friends of Star, but we owe it to Star to make sure that the findings of the review take account of all the facts that emerged during the trial. It is vital that we all – partner agencies, staff and our communities - have full confidence in the review’s recommendations and the actions that our partnership will need to take in the future to better protect children.  

“We will announce a new publication date in due course.”