Baby P death prompts 22% rise in ‘at-risk’ figures

THE number of youngsters on the child protection register in Aberdeen soared by 22% in the wake of the tragic death of Baby P, it emerged yesterday.

Philip Cotterill, the city’s social work chief, revealed the huge rise at yesterday’s resources management committee meeting.

The troubleshooter, recruited to overhaul the council’s social work department following two damning government inspection reports last year, told councillors 31 more children had been placed on the register since December last year.

The rise, which takes the total number of Aberdeen youngsters on the register from 143 to 174, was attributed to the publicity surrounding the death in London of 17-month-old Baby P, who died despite 60 visits from social workers in an eight-month period during which he suffered more than 50 injuries.

“I have to report to you that since December we have taken another 31 children on to the child protection register, that is a 22% increase,” Mr Cotterill said.

“That is not all bad news. It means social workers are doing their jobs correctly, people are reporting things correctly and that we are dealing with issues when they are reported to us. It is something that happens after high-profile cases and I commend the work of officers in dealing with the rise.”

Mr Cotterill updated councillors on progress made in the restructuring of the council’s children’s services department, criticised last year by the Social Work Inspection Agency and HM Inspectorate of Education. He said: “We have seen considerable improvement in children’s services in the last few months. I believe we are going to have a very strong children’s services in Aberdeen for the future.”

Committee convener Kevin Stewart thanked Mr Cotterill and his staff for their work.

“As corporate parents we are all aware of our obligations and I am sure you and your team are doing all you can to protect children in this city,” he said.

Six mothers who campaigned for a song to be released in memory of Baby P said yesterday they hoped the charity single by Chris Rea would reach number one in the charts. The song, Tell Me There’s A Heaven, will be re-released on Monday by Rea, with profits going to the UK children’s charity NSPCC.

After setting up a group called A Song for Baby P on Facebook, the mums – including Gail Townsley, from Perth – asked their 17,000 members to e-mail the rock star’s label.