| Flowers in Gods Garden
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19/11/01
- Pc tells Victoria inquiry of her scabies fear
An inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie has heard
how a police officer responsible for her protection refused
to visit her home for fear of catching scabies. Pc Karen
Jones failed to inspect Victoria's house while the eight-year-old
was in hospital after being admitted due to scalding on
her head and face.
The officer decided there was no evidence of a crime despite
hearing from a doctor there were marks on Victoria's body
consistent with belt buckle injuries.
In an earlier statement, the officer, who worked for Haringey
Child Protection Team, said she did not visit Victoria's
home because she was worried about putting her colleagues,
five-year-old child, husband and herself at risk of catching
scabies.
Victoria died six-and-a-half months later, in February
last year. Her great aunt Marie-Therese Kouao and boyfriend
Carl Manning were convicted of her murder, and sentenced
to life imprisonment in January this year.
Pc Jones told the inquiry she invited Kouao to the Social
Services office two days before Victoria was discharged
to go home.
"I had a feeling, well, you would be more in control
at the Social Services office," she said. "I
did not know what scabies was. I did not know if it could
- what was it? Would it be in the house? Could it be in
the house? I just did not know the answers to those questions."
Questioned by counsel to the inquiry Neil Garnham QC,
Pc Jones admitted that the risk would be identical whether
she met them at the office or in their home. |
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