Star Hobson: Bradford Council leader apologises over lack of action over concerns

The apology comes as a National Safeguarding Practice Review into the deaths of Star, from Keighley and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes from Solihull was published.

It detailed the numerous missed opportunities in both cases where social services, police and health bodies failed to intervene.

READ MORE: How little star was failed time after time by those paid to protect her

Following the release of the review, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe apologised to Star's family that "signs were missed" before her death.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: "The murders of Star and Arthur were truly horrific and should not have happened. On behalf of the Council I want to say sorry to Star’s family that signs were missed and that we did not take the action we should have. Rightly both cases have now been scrutinised at a national level and the learning and recommendations will therefore have, not just local, but national significance.

Star Hobson

“The review is very clear about the national change needed to strengthen the way in which local councils, the police, education, and health services work to keep children safe.

"In Bradford, we are fully committed to implementing the findings of this review so that those who work to protect our children can do so in the most effective way possible. We are working closely with the Government to set up our Children’s Trust to continue improving the service for children.

"Star and Arthur’s lives were cruelly cut short. It is vital that the report into their murders leads to real change that prevents crimes like these being committed in the future.”

READ MORE: ‘We hope our Star didn’t die in vain’ – family speaks out after report

Marium Haque, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said: "The murder of Star was devastating for our community. It is something that no one involved in protecting children ever wants to happen.

"The National Panel review sets out some very clear guidance on what we need to do across organisations to strengthen our child protection procedures.

“The review explores issues and identifies areas that we have already taken action on. But we will continue to work closely with our staff, local organisations like the police and health, and the National Panel to make sure that everyone involved in keeping children safe fully understands the recommendations and where we still have more work to do to improve.

“We are working alongside the Government appointed Children’s Commissioner to make significant changes in how social workers work in our district.

"We are in the process of setting up a Children’s Trust which will deliver further changes we need to make at pace to make sure children in our district are safer.”

Kersten England, chief executive of Bradford Council, said: "The murder of Star Hobson was horrific and distressing and I am deeply sorry that opportunities to protect her from such cruel and despicable abuse were missed.

“Our thoughts are, and always will be, with those who loved her.

“The expert report is tough to read but it is absolutely essential that we understand in detail what went wrong. I accept its findings and assure everyone that firm action has been and will continue to be taken to strengthen our child protection processes and help prevent a tragic case like this from happening again.

“As the report makes clear, the cases of Star and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes highlight many of the problems facing children’s social care nationally. I know colleagues up and down the country will be looking at the report to ensure all the lessons are learned from these heart-breaking losses of young lives.”

Janice Hawkes, Independent Chair of The Bradford Partnership – Working Together to Safeguard Children, said: "On behalf of the Bradford Partnership, I want to say first and foremost that Star’s death in such awful circumstances should not have happened and that we are truly sorry that it did.

"We know agencies let Star down and we must put things right.

“The publication of this thorough and detailed independent review outlines very clearly the opportunities that we missed locally to better protect Star.

"We have already put in place steps to tackle this but we recognise that there is still work to do and as a partnership we are entirely committed to improving the safety of children across Bradford.

“The report acknowledges, as every social worker, health professional, police officer, and front-line practitioner knows, how complex and challenging working in child protection can be. I welcome the National Panel’s recommendations in asking that government put in place a more up-to-date approach with experts from police, health and social work in dedicated teams working together in every local area.

“As the new Chair of the Bradford Partnership, I am absolutely committed to making sure we do everything in our power to strengthen how we keep children safer in our district.

"But this report is also about steps that we must take nationally to strengthen our approach to children’s safeguarding.

"We owe this to Star, Arthur and their families as well as every child up and down the country.”