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February 2002 Archived News
Monday 11 February
KEY INQUIRY PARTIES TO MAKE CLOSING STATEMENTS
THE KEY parties to the Victoria Climbié Inquiry will sum
up their cases in two chief days of closing submissions, on Monday
18 February and Tuesday 19 February.
The Inquiry will also hear one closing statement - from Enfield
council - on Wednesday 27 February.
After the giving of the final submissions for Phase One of the
Inquiry - which looks specifically at the circumstances leading
to Victoria's tragic death - the investigation will then move onto
its second stage.
During the two principal days of Phase One final submissions, legal
representatives for people and organisations such as Victoria's
parents, Carole Baptiste - the social work manager being prosecuted
by the Inquiry, Haringey council, the NSPCC and others will put
their concluding views before Inquiry chairman Lord Laming.
Leading counsel to the Inquiry Neil Garnham QC will also make a
closing statement, which will be delivered at the end of the second
day.
On 18 February, the following individuals and organisations are
scheduled to be among those making final submissions: the NSPCC,
Ealing council, Central Middlesex hospital, North Middlesex hospital,
Brent council, the Metropolitan police, Ms Baptiste and another
social work manager Angella Mairs.
Meanwhile, on 19 February, those giving closing statements are
likely to include: Haringey police child protection team, Victoria's
social worker Lisa Arthurworrey, Haringey council, the Climbiés
and Inquiry counsel.
The second stage of the Inquiry, which is to look at measures to
prevent a tragedy such as Victoria's case happening again, will
include five seminars and take place between Friday 16 March and
Friday 26 April.
Contact:
Paul Rees, Head of Communications
Tel: 020 7972 1999
Fax: 020 7972 1981
Mobile: 07884 473 355
paul.rees@victoriaclimbie.org
Friday 1 February
WITNESSES TO BE CALLED IN WEEK BEGINNING FEBRUARY 4
THE OFFICER in charge of the Metropolitan police service's child
protection work will give evidence to the inquiry into the tragic
death of Victoria Climbié on Monday 4 February - the last
scheduled day of witness evidence in the Inquiry's first phase.
Crime Commander Carole Howlett has had the lead responsibility
for child protection within the Metropolitan constabulary since
March 2000. And, according to Inquiry leading counsel Neil Garnham
QC, she believes that at the time of Victoria's case, the capital's
child protection teams were suffering as a result of the fall-out
from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.
Mr Garnham QC told the Inquiry, in his opening statement on Wednesday
26 September, that according to Ms Howlett: "Anecdotal information
would suggest that following the Macpherson Inquiry into the death
of Stephen Lawrence, child protection teams were plundered in order
to increase numbers of personnel on murder investigation teams."
Mr Garnham went on to say: "If that is right, it is, frankly,
astonishing that senior officers in the Metropolitan Police should
have agreed to staff, from one department, being "plundered"
for the benefit of another."
Also being called on Monday is Joe Heatley, Commissioning Manager
for Children's Services at Haringey council, who at, one stage,
was Carole Baptiste's manager.
Once the Phase One witness evidence is completed, all the key parties
to the Inquiry - including Victoria's parents and Haringey council
- will be permitted to make a closing submission. Closing statements
will be made on Monday 18 February and Tuesday 19 February, with
Enfield council's submission being delivered on Wednesday 27 February.
Phase Two of the Inquiry, which will include five seminars, will
take place between Friday 15 March and Friday 26 April.
Contact:
Paul Rees, Head of Communications
Tel: 020 7972 1999
Fax: 020 7972 1981
Mobile: 07884 473 355
paul.rees@victoriaclimbie.org
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