| Flowers in Gods Garden
- Articles |
25/01/02
- NSPCC 'could have acted more appropriately' for Victoria
Climbie
The NSPCC says it could have taken "more appropriate
action" in its handling of child abuse victim Victoria
Climbie. The charity has made the admission as it faced
allegations of doctoring crucial information to the
public inquiry into her death.
An inquiry spokesman said Lord Laming, the chairman,
takes the doctoring allegations very seriously and will
consider them fully while writing his inquiry report.
Victoria was referred by a Haringey social worker to
the NSPCC's Tottenham Child and Family Centre in north
London on August 5 1999, nearly seven months before
her death.
Two different versions of vital documents were unearthed
after Lord Laming ordered the NSPCC, one of Britain's
st child protection charities, to provide original copies.
They relate to how Victoria was being viewed as being
at risk of harm.
The NSPCC claimed the originals had been lost and that
details had been changed to protect the identity of
former staff members. Barry Graham, the NSPCC's director
of education and community services, told the inquiry:
"Exhibit 1 indicates that Victoria was 'accepted
for ongoing service'.
The form attached as Exhibit 2, not previously provided
to the inquiry in any form, indicated that Victoria's
file is for 'no further action'." It is believed
this record may have been altered shortly after Victoria's
death in February 2000.
Her initial referral papers may have been changed to
"explain away that nothing was done with this referral
for months and months and months", Neil Sheldon
for the inquiry said. The NSPCC said it has found "no
evidence of deception or falsification" of its
records.
Outside the hearing a spokeswoman said: "This case
was not referred to the centre as child abuse - nor
did the information given present a full, accurate picture
of Victoria's situation.
"However, it did raise some concerns which the
NSPCC fully accepts should have alerted the centre to
the possibility that she was at risk of harm and that
more appropriate action could have been taken." |
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