Police wanted Baby P in care

Officials were split over how to care for tragic Baby P in the weeks before his death, it has emerged. Police apparently disagreed with Haringey social services over how the 17-month-old boy was being looked after. The toddler was admitted to hospital in June last year with non-accidental injuries and according to a documentary, police wanted the child put in care. But they were persuaded otherwise after a reported "frank exchange of views" with social workers who preferred to return him to his mother. The police eventually signed a care plan that allowed Baby P to be returned home, only to suffer further abuse. A later police briefing stated officers should be "more confident" in their role at case conferences and should not be overruled by another agency. However, it was not just police who disagreed with social services that Baby P should be taken away from his 27-year-old mother, who has since pleaded guilty to causing or allowing his death. The documentary reveals that senior social worker Sylvia Henry, a team manager at the Tottenham social services office, wanted to place the child into care from as early as December 2006. Ms Henry had even found a foster home for Baby P, where he was placed for a short period of time. However, the placement was terminated when a member of Haringey's social service team sent him back to his mother. Other confidential police documents, uncovered by the documentary, said social services had become "too parent focussed" on the mother and that the mother's apparent cooperation had led to a "rule of optimism". Haringey Council said its only consideration in any decision is for the welfare of the child and that any disagreements with police were the rigorous discussions between professionals that would be expected when dealing with child protection. Various inquiries are under way into the death of Baby P. His mother's 32-year-old boyfriend and another man, Jason Owen, 36, were convicted at the Old Bailey last week of causing or allowing his death. The child's 27-year-old mother had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, which carries a maximum 14-year jail term. All three have been warned they will receive lengthy jail terms when they are sentenced next month.

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ITN | November 17, 2008

Tags:. .workers. .uncovered. .tragic. .tottenham. .toddler