Probe into baby death ‘neglect’ - social services under spotlight after mother arrested over infant death

Published: 19 March 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

THE spotlight fell on Westminster Council’s social services department last night (Thursday) after a mother they were monitoring was arrested on suspicion of neglect following the death of her 11-month-old baby.

The woman, who lived in St John’s Wood, was arrested following the death of the child on March 8. But the 29-year-old died two days later in St Mary’s ­Hospital, Paddington. Police said it appeared the mother had committed suicide.

Westminster Council confirmed another child, believed to be three years old, has been taken into their care from a home on the Townsend Estate, Allitsen Road.

The West End Extra understands Westminster Local Safeguarding Children Board will launch an investigation today (Friday).

The mother was in contact with Westminster social services and also the NHS.

A post-mortem ­examination has failed to establish the cause of the baby’s death and tests are ongoing. 

An inquest will be opened at Westminster Coroner’s Court on a date to be set. 

It is understood that the children’s father, who did not live at the address, has been notified of the deaths.

Neighbour Manab Ilchididac, who lives two doors down, said: “I was coming back from hospital and the whole place looked like a war zone – there were six or seven police cars and an ambulance.”

In a statement, Michael O’Connor, Westminster City Council’s strategic director for children and young people, said: “The family was new to London and the council had arranged their housing. 

“They were under the care of the health service, and social services were working closely with health professionals to help support them. 

“Neither of the children was on the child protection register and there is no suggestion that they were at risk of harm from neglect or abuse. 

“We do not know the cause of the baby’s death yet, and until we do we will not be able to determine if anything further could have been done to help prevent it.

“This is one of the saddest cases I have ever come across.”