06/01/03 - Milburn insists Victoria Climbie lessons are learned

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has received the long-awaited report into the killing of child abuse victim Victoria Climbie and said it is "vital" that lessons are learned. The report by Lord Laming, chairman of the Government-appointed public inquiry into the eight-year-old's death, will be published in due course.

It is expected to identify a catalogue of damming failures in Britain's child protection services and call for a radical shake-up of the system. Mr Milburn said: "Victoria's death was a tragedy. It is vital that all agencies dealing with children learn the lesson from this terrible case.

"Protecting children, particularly the most vulnerable, is a central priority for health and social services whether provided by government or non-government agencies." Victoria died in February 2000 in Tottenham, north London, with 128 injuries on her body.

She suffered months of torture and abuse at the hands of her great-aunt Marie Therese Kouao and Kouao's boyfriend Carl Manning, who are serving life for her murder. At least 12 chances to save Victoria's life were missed by three local authorities, police and social services who all came in contact with her before her death.

She was let down by lapses in communication between social workers, police and health officials, Lord Laming, a former Chief Inspector of social services, has heard. Haringey social services has been criticised for having a "chaotic team" of social workers and for hindering Lord Laming's inquiry by producing documents late.