How can parents do this?

That was my advice to my children Galaxy, for the same reasons. They didn’t really need the advice because they saw the effects of the job on both their parents close up.

Remember Maria Colwell, her broken and battered body put in the old pram they used to put coal in. I was 12 when she died in 1973 and I remember it being said 'this must never happen again'.

How many times has it happened since and how many times will it happen again. Society is failing these children and the least the law can do is lock up the perpetrators for life.

I have read before about abused children going on to be abused. I know some do but I could never get my head around it.
I don't know if my childhood experiences would be classed as abuse but I think they were. It was so horrendous that I couldn't envisage treating a child with anything but love and kindness.

Sorry that should read 'going on to be abusers'.

nightowl

That was my advice to my children Galaxy, for the same reasons. They didn’t really need the advice because they saw the effects of the job on both their parents close up.

I did work with PSWs, nightowl and started training myself but could not continue for family reasons, never continued with it afterwards as I know how harrowing it can be.
At that time the NSPCC seemed to have more powers but their ethos has changed now, I think..

Yes indeed Calistemon they used to carry out investigations, and when I first started as a social worker I remember going out with them. They wore uniform as and were known by families as ‘the cruelty man’. Those days are long gone and they do more therapeutic work now. They pass all child protection referrals on to Children’s Services which can be very frustrating because often they haven’t asked the right questions or got all the information that’s needed. People phone them as they have more trust in them than in Children's Services but sadly it often means information is simply passed through another filter and important details can be lost.

I do not know how people can do anýthing like this, but I do know how they get away with it!

On various occasions when, as a teacher, I have suspected something has been seriously wrong in a pupil's home, I have been told, quite rudely, not to intefere both by head teachers and others.

If you go to the police and they too treat you as an interfering busybody, you do tend to give up, unless you can find something that is indisputable proof that a child is being ill-treated.

Perhaps we need to find a way to act on our suspicions, although I can well see that that could lead to false accusations that would be damaging in themselves to the children we would like to help.

Kate1949

I have read before about abused children going on to be abused. I know some do but I could never get my head around it.
I don't know if my childhood experiences would be classed as abuse but I think they were. It was so horrendous that I couldn't envisage treating a child with anything but love and kindness.

I think some children learn the best way to be loved by a abusive parent is to act like them. If there is a scapegoat child in the family, they will also bully the scapegoat and defend the parent. I suppose this breaks something in some of these children and they then perpetuate that behaviour with their own scapegoats one day.

Scapegoats are much more likely to be the ones who don't accept the parents behaviour and rebel against it. Their better nature's is why they are chosen to scapegoat and abuse in the first place. They must be silenced and prevented from making the family look bad.

I have worked extensively with Social Workers over the years. They have a very difficult job.

I know of many very successful cases, where working with families and children, they have been kept together, and been supported appropriately. The Social Workers have balanced it all just right! Those ones don't tend to get in the news!

I am also aware of some times when the thresholds for action were frighteningly high and what seemed to be considered acceptable was worryingly wide ranging! Those cases only get in the news when the worst happens!

I think it very important to remember that we tend to only hear about the very serious, sad and very very shocking failures.

Reading the story of Arthur was very upsetting indeed and brought back memories of past cases, sadly.

Thank you for making that point Madgran77

As a teacher, I worked in social deprived areas and in two schools there were occasions when we worked with Social Services. On one occasion, the head made a call one morning to SS and a child was taken away immediately from the family home. SS had to have support from the Police to do this. The head, with a Teaching Assistant, had visited the home that morning. What he saw resulted in that call. We had growing concerns about the mother.

I'd find it too distressing to watch the video. Reading about it, is upsetting enough.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My original answer was deleted - probably too graphic for some sensitive soul to read.

I'd like to think that when this evil pair gets sent to prison (probably for nowhere near long enough), that other. equally evil inmates will inflict some terrible injuries on them, on a daily basis. They should live the rest of their days in absolute terror, dreading the next attack on them.

I wonder what has become of her own four children? No mention of any of them. If she gets out will she get them back?

Forsythia

I wonder what has become of her own four children? No mention of any of them. If she gets out will she get them back?

I hope that she gets a long enough sentence that they will be adults by the time she gets out, Forsythia.

But who knows what they have endured themselves and then as adults may well go on to act similarly.

I'm not sure how old they are.

Forsythia

But who knows what they have endured themselves and then as adults may well go on to act similarly.

They could have been well cared for.
It's not unknown for just one child in a family to suffer

You’re probably right, but it’s beyond me that someone would do this. It sounds as thought the father just dumped the boy on her, not that’s an excuse.

I’m another with 40 years in social work, mainly in safeguarding. I’m retired. I’ve read about this little boy and saw the video on line but couldn’t watch it.
There will be an inquiry but my impression is of a cunning. manipulative couple, who lied to school and avoided sending him. Some of this abuse happened during lockdown, the father convinced school A was ok.
I was distressed to read that his grandmother’s concerns, including a serious bruise to his shoulder were dismissed. No doubt the father convinced the sw that gran was malicious.

Not all adults abused in childhood repeat that. Many go into parenthood determined not to repeat abuse patterns. Some people enjoy inflicting pain, terrifying children deliberately. There are a number such cases in the criminal Court currently.

I make no excuses for those parents. It’s devastating to read that in some cases, social workers have been involved. What can’t be ignored though is the impact of devastation of public services that supported children and families.

Forsythia

You’re probably right, but it’s beyond me that someone would do this. It sounds as thought the father just dumped the boy on her, not that’s an excuse.

The father is accused of murder and child cruelty too.

It is reported that the step-mother sent messages to the father saying the boy was crying.
Hughes would reply with messages such as 'dig Arthur's grave', 'I'll take his neck off,' and the 'kid is getting it when I get back''.
He also sent texts saying that he would take his 'c*****g jaw off his shoulders' and told his partner 'put him out with the rubbish'.
Earlier this week Hughes admitted he would also use 'pressure points on Arthur's neck to discipline him' after seeing videos about police brutality in the US online

How many children suffered during lockdown with evil parents?
We know about little Arthur because he died.

Too many Callistemon. Care proceedings escalated. The government made places at school for key worker families and ‘vulnerable’ children. No surprise that few of the vulnerable children attended.

I just feel sad and angry Iam64

There are so many cases most people never hear of.

It's not like there isn't help out there if you feel you can't cope with the children!!!
Anyone who is found guilty of child murder should go away for life, and not a cushty life, they should do hard labour!!!

Agree with you Kate1949. While I was not abused my mother was less than loving to me. I went on to absolutely adore my own children and grandchildren. For you Kate