ere numerous and occurred over a relatively long period of time (four and a half years). The initial October 1987 report concerned Z's stealing food at night. Thereafter, in November 1987, the local social services professionals, which included several relevant agencies, sent a social worker and a health visitor to the children's home. The case was reviewed again in March 1988 and was then closed due to diminished concerns about the children's welfare.
The negative reports about the children's living conditions, however, did not cease. In September 1988 a neighbor reported that the children were locked outside the house and the next April the police reported that the children's living conditions were filthy. The children's doctor affirmed both these reports. Moreover, in May 1989, the children's head-teacher asked for a conference on the children's case due to her concerns about their welfare. Shortly thereafter, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the emergency social services team also received reports from neighbors and the maternal grandmother expressing concerns about the children's living conditions. Nonetheless, in October 1989, the local authorities declined to appoint a dedicated social worker.
Despite the numerous expressed concerns about the children's welfare, the social service authorities maintained that the children suffered only from limited and neglectful parenting rather than a risk of physical abuse. Thus, in December 1989, they rejected the health visitor's recommendation that the children be placed on the Child Protection Register. They did, however, assign a social-work assistant and they decided to investigate the children's statement that A had been hit with a poker.
The professionals reported in March 1990 that the children's living conditions had improved although two of the children were once again reported to be stealing food from school. In July 1990, the...