Death of a Son

Product Information

Klonowski, A (2013) Report of the Independent Reviewing Officer in relation to child sexual exploitation issues in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council during the period 2006 to 2013. [Rochdale]: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (no longer available).

Laming, L (2003) The Victoria Climbie inquiry: report of an inquiry by Lord Laming (PDF). Norwich: The Stationery Office (TSO). The Children Act 1989 established the legislative framework for the current child protection system in England and Wales. It sets out the paramountcy principle – that the welfare of the child should be the court’s main consideration. 1990 – United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child The independent review into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rochdale examined the council’s response to issues around child sexual exploitation (CSE), after 47 girls were identified as victims of CSE (Klonowski, 2013). 13

Death of a Son opened the fifth season of Screen Two productions on Sunday, January 8th 1989, and starred the late Oscar-nominated and award winning actress Lynn Redgrave (Georgy Girl, The Virgin Soldiers), and Malcolm Storry (Firefox, Under Suspicion) as Pauline and Ray Williams. In 1986 Pauline Williams, a Luton housewife, became the first person in Britain ever to bring a successful private prosecution for manslaughter. The story begain in 1982 when John Williams, Pauline and Rays 19 year old son, died from an overdose of the drug Palfium. In spite of the inquest jurys verdict of unlawful killing, the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled that charges were not to be brought against the drug dealer who injected John with the fatal overdose. Both Pauline and Ray found this ruling impossible to accept, and so began a remarkable individual battle. Death of a Son is the powerful and moving stroy of what happened to the Williams family; of how Pauline took on the full weight of the British medical and legal establishment - and won. For after three years of campaigning and studying, Pauline finally proved to the DPP that there was a case of manslaughter to answer. To make recommendations to all relevant organisations where actions have been identified which may prevent future child deaths or promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children;

Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both aged 10, were killed by Ian Huntley, their school caretaker. He had previously been investigated by police for crimes including burglary, indecent assault and rape.Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) (2019) So-called honour based abuse and forced marriage. [Accessed 13/08/2019]. The Northern Ireland Executive agreed the terms of reference for its Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (the HIA Inquiry) and appointed Sir Anthony Hart as chair. 2013 – Review of sexual exploitation in Rochdale and updates to Working together guidance in England The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales (IICSA) officially launched to consider the growing evidence of institutional failures to protect children from child sexual abuse (IICSA, 2018). 16 The Welsh Government introduced the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act), which will abolish the defence of reasonable punishment from 2022.

At the age of 7, Maria Colwell was killed by her step-father after being returned home from foster care. The public inquiry that followed her death found that Maria had been failed by the child protection system.The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (the Panel) published a safeguarding practice review 30 into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson (Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, 2022b). The review examines the circumstances leading up to their deaths and sets out recommendations and findings for national government and local safeguarding partners for improving practice.