Lauren Creed aged 5
 Lauren Creed aged 5 |
||
|
Norfolk social services Social Services and police admitted fatal errors. Overworked care staff fear another tragedy Telegraph By Sally Pook 12 December 1998 SOCIAL services in Norfolk admitted yesterday they had failed in their duty to protect Lauren Creed, the five-year-old child murdered by her mother's violent boyfriend. Other agencies involved with the child in the three months before her death said they had made mistakes, too, and police admitted a series of fatal errors. Director of Norfolk social services, David Wright, said that the same mistakes could be made again because of the immense number of domestic violence cases his department had to deal with. "We failed in our duty, and for that I am deeply sorry," he said. "This could happen again because our workload now is even worse." Graham Sate, 25, a merchant seaman, was jailed for life yesterday for the murder of Lauren, with a recommendation that he serve at least 25 years. Sate, who battered the little girl to death, had been out of prison for less than a year, following a sentence for attempted murder, when he killed Lauren. The child's mother, Sharon Creed, 25, was jailed for five years after admitting two charges of cruelty, one for failing for 90 minutes to call an ambulance to assist her dying daughter. Following the sentencing at Norwich Crown Court, chief officers from Norfolk social services and the area child protection committee, the civilian police and the RAF police all admitted mistakes had been made after police and social workers failed to act on signs that Lauren was at risk. Norfolk constabulary was criticised after two officers called to deal with a domestic incident at the child's home at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk, three months before her death, failed to examine her although they were told she was covered in bruises. They also failed to inform the probation service of Sate's convictions for attempted murder and actual bodily harm. At the time Sate was still on licence to Humberside probation service and could have been recalled to prison. Chief Constable of Norfolk police, Ken Williams, said: "We as a police force may have fallen short in certain circumstances and procedures, but . . . at no time did we have a full picture of the dangers Lauren faced." A policeman also listened to a tape of Lauren, in which she detailed being beaten by Sate, which had been made by a concerned neighbour. Mr. Williams said: "One of the officers listened to the tape and he will be revisiting that moment time and again. I have looked into the eyes of the two officers who went to the home of Graham Sate on July 7. They honestly believe that they acted with integrity that night according to the circumstances." Norfolk police have changed their procedures since Lauren's death and there is now more rigorous highlighting of suspicious cases to social services. A review of the case by the Norfolk Area Child Protection Committee made a number of recommendations. These include plans for all agencies involved in child welfare to establish better lines of communication and to work together. Mr Justice Newman said yesterday that Sate was a man who did not hesitate to use violence or lie to save himself. "Lauren must have been in a state of silent terror while this horrendous, sustained beating took place, for nobody heard screams," he said. "Finally by a blow to her stomach while you had her on the ground, you kicked and punched the life out of her. You could not even summon the humanity to call an ambulance. For two hours, in an effort to save yourself, you chose to let her battered figure die." The judge told Creed, who sobbed throughout the hour and a half hearing at Norwich Crown Court, that she had showed "not one ounce of compassion" to her daughter and that she shared responsibility for the death. "You had countless opportunities to release your daughter from the hellish cruelty and risk she was exposed to," he said. "You knew she was being subjected to violence and you deliberately chose for your own selfish reasons to leave Lauren Creed at the hands of a man who you knew because of his previous convictions was a man capable of violence." Lauren Creed: A timeline of tragedy Source: BBC How closely were social services watching the case of Lauren Creed? The following chain of events is based on information from the Norfolk Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC). June 1996 Lauren and her mother move to RAF Colitshall, Norfolk. December 1996: Graham Sate is released from prison and remains on licence until 27 July 1997. Sometime between his release and April 1997 he formed a relationship with Creed. 7 July 1997 A domestic dispute occurred in the family home of Creed which was attended by the RAF Police and the civilian police. The ACPC says neighbours were concerned that Sate had assaulted Lauren and showed the RAF police bruising on her body. The committee also says the civilian police were told about a tape recording of Lauren made by neighbours. 8 July 1997 The ACPC information says that the RAF Police took no further action against Sate as Creed did not want to go ahead with charges. The police reported the events to the Police Family Protection Unit and formally passed information to social services and education identifying Laren as a child "at risk" but as a case with a low level of concern. 22 July 1997 Social services intake team are informed verbally of the protection concerns regarding Lauren. Inquiries are initiated. 22 July - 14 August 1997 Norfolk Social Services make inquries with the Child Protection Register, Health Visiting Service, and the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Family Association (SSAFA) which spoke to to neighbours. Information was also sought on the relevance of Sate's past offences. 14 August 1997 Creed consults an RAF doctor about Lauren's behaviour and her own relationship with Sate. 15 August 1997 Creed revisits doctor who arranges for Lauren to have a paediatric examination at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital that day. The appointment is missed and Creed and Sate take Lauren to Grimsby. 16 August 1997 Lauren is admitted to Grimsby Hospital. Norfolk ACPC says no specialist opinion was sought on child abuse and Lauren is discharged the next day. 18 August 1997Word of Lauren's admission to hospital is spread to Norfolk health, the RAF doctor and social services. Senior hospital workers had expressed concerns about bruising on Lauren's body. 20 August 1997 An inter-agency meeting is held regarding Lauren in Norfolk. A social worker, the SSAFA, Family Protection Unit and RAF doctor are involved. Further investigations are agreed. 1 September 1997 Creed and Lauren return to Coltishall. Two days later Creed is interviewed by a social worker. She is reluctant for Sate to be interviewed saying she had no personal concerns and she thought neighbours had encouraged Lauren to say bad things about him. 15 September 1997 Social worker meets Creed again. A second inter-agency meeting is also held involving two social workers, the SSAFA, Family Protection Unit and health visitor. Further visits and inquiries are agreed. 16 September 1997 Social services contacts Humberside probation seeking more information about Sate. 22 September 1997 Social worker meets with Creed and Lauren. Sate is working offshore. An appointment is made to meet them all on 20 October. 22 September 1997 - October 20 1997 Laurens childminders are contacted and express no concerns. October 14 1997br /> Sate is due back from working offshore. October 20 1997Creed cancels the planned social worker appointment. October 21 1997 Lauren dies. |
||
