A devastating new report has laid bare the catastrophic failures that preceded the death of Baby P, revealing the toddler suffered an astonishing 50 separate injuries while known to social services.
The serious case review exposes how multiple agencies missed critical opportunities to save the 17-month-old boy, who endured months of abuse despite being on Haringey Council's child protection register.
A System in Chaos
Documents reveal social workers visited the family home 60 times yet failed to recognise the escalating danger. Medical professionals also noted suspicious injuries but didn't escalate concerns sufficiently.
"This represents one of the most severe cases of professional failure in child protection history," the report states.
Missed Red Flags
Among the shocking revelations:
- Baby P sustained broken bones and severe bruising over several months
- Social workers accepted parents' explanations for injuries without proper scrutiny
- Inadequate information sharing between agencies
- Failure to follow basic child protection procedures
Lasting Impact on Child Safeguarding
The case prompted nationwide reforms in child protection practices, though questions remain about whether enough has changed. The report concludes that systemic failures at every level contributed to this preventable tragedy.
Baby P's death in 2007 sparked public outrage and led to significant changes in social work practice, but this new evidence suggests even deeper failings than previously understood.
