Greater than 60 calls had been made to police and social providers earlier than a nine-year-old boy was killed by his mom and her associate throughout a pandemic lockdown.
A Freedom of knowledge request discovered West Mercia Police and Worcestershire County Council had been contacted about Alfie Steele 64 occasions between them over a three-year interval earlier than his demise.
The figures had been launched yesterday as a safeguarding kids report was revealed which laid naked a string of missed alternatives to intervene.
Alfie died in February 2021 at his mom Carla Scott’s new-build housing affiliation property in Droitwich, Worcestershire, the place he suffered ’sadistic’ punishments together with beatings and being held below tub water.
A trial heard the sports-mad schoolboy was locked out of the home or in a shed – the place he could be pressured to face nonetheless – or whipped with belts throughout a ’sinister’ regime of correction and abuse by Scott and her profession legal lover Dirk Howell.
Alfie Steele died in February 2021 at his mom Carla Scott’s new-build housing affiliation property in Droitwich, Worcestershire, the place he suffered ’sadistic’ punishments together with beatings and being held below tub water
Dirk Howell, who has been jailed at Coventry Crown Courtroom for all times with a minimal time period of 32 years for murdering nine-year-old Alfie
Jurors heard involved neighbours and even passers-by on the street reported the therapy doled out by Howell, 41, and Scott, 35 – who they mentioned turned a blind eye – to police, social providers, the council and Alfie’s college. Six months earlier than Alfie died, a neighbour made a harrowing 999 name reporting ’thrashing’ sounds coming from the lavatory ’like they’re actually hurting him’.
Six missed possibilities to save lots of Alfie
A overview of social providers and police contact with a nine-year-old boy earlier than he was killed by his mom and stepfather has discovered he was classed as ’protected and properly’ after dwelling visits when he was not spoken to.
The 23-page overview mentioned: ’There have been six recognized incidents of concern raised with the police or kids’s providers about neighbours or college employees issues about bodily abuse or Dirk Howell’s harsh and merciless practices to Alfie.
’Every incident could be adopted up by a police or social employee go to. There was inconsistency when Alfie was spoken to, made sophisticated by his age and on some events the lateness within the day of the go to.
’Too usually he was described as ’protected and properly’ when he had not been spoken to.
’The police didn’t all the time observe by means of on accidents famous to Alfie. There have been all the time causal explanations given by Alfie or Carla Scott, however given the context, there ought to have been extra thought given to making sure that accidents had been checked by means of medical examination.
’These incidents ought to have led to a method dialogue and consideration of the necessity for little one safety medicals.
’This overview has discovered that buddies, neighbours and folks locally took nice dangers to make sure that Alfie may very well be protected, and abuse and neglect addressed.
’The overview wish to thank them for all that they did, with the chance of violence and retribution from Dirk Howell.
’When Dirk Howell threatened the neighbours with violence and arson, they mentioned they didn’t wish to pursue a criticism as a result of they had been nervous about repercussions. Extra may have been completed to help them by means of a dialogue of bail situations and protecting motion.
’Within the interval below overview there was an over-reliance on Alfie to share issues and proof that he was being abused and harmed. He was persistently requested if he had any worries, whether or not he favored Dirk Howell and what had occurred within the context of allegations of abuse and aggression.
’All through the overview course of there was an absence of dialogue of Alfie’s lived expertise and reflection on the distinction between what was recognized about what life was like and what he mentioned about it.’
Alfie died after being discovered unresponsive in tub water, with Scott claiming he had fallen asleep whereas bathing.
Howell was sentenced to not less than 32 years in jail for homicide final yr after a trial at Coventry Crown Courtroom. Scott was jailed for manslaughter with a minimal tariff of 17 years.
The Freedom of Info requests by the BBC found Worcestershire County Council was contacted 36 occasions between 2018 and 2020 by individuals who had been involved about Alfie’s welfare.
West Mercia Police had been contacted 28 occasions throughout the identical interval.
Some incidents of concern raised about bodily abuse or Howell’s ’harsh and merciless’ practices had been adopted up by a police or social employee go to, the Worcestershire Safeguarding Kids’s Partnership report mentioned.
However, it added, ’too usually he was described as protected and properly when he had not been spoken to.
’Over the interval of this overview there have been many incidents of concern, they had been completely different in nature, however all had been handled in isolation from one another and weren’t mentioned holistically within the context of joint enquiries between the police and kids’s providers.’
Alfie had been on the radar of social providers since he was a younger boy and had been topic to a toddler safety plan for neglect in 2018, the identical yr Scott moved with him from her dwelling city of Wolverhampton to Droitwich.
She met Howell, who had a legal historical past stretching again three many years, the next yr.
By that August, the report mentioned kin and neighbours had raised issues about Howell’s criminality, aggression and drug use, prompting a safeguarding technique dialogue.
Extra neighbours raised issues in 2020, alongside Alfie’s headmaster, however at a gathering in July – a month after Howell had been caught shoplifting – it was agreed the brink for care proceedings was not met. In August, neighbours warned police they’ll hear a toddler being harmed. Scott denied the suggestion, earlier than Howell then threatened to burn the neighbour’s dwelling down for blowing the whistle – leaving the resident too scared to pursue a criticism. The report concluded that ’extra may have been completed to help’ the neighbour’.
Howell was then topic to 3 additional police investigations for assaults and housebreaking, the place a group of shotguns had been taken from an aged man’s gun cupboard, whereas the authorities additionally acquired data that Howell and Scott could also be drug-dealing from dwelling.
On the time of his demise, Alfie had greater than 50 accidents on his physique.
Paul Scott, Alfie’s grandfather, mentioned: ’We reported Howell repeatedly to social providers and nothing was completed.
’No one joined the dots; so many possibilities had been missed.
’They know they let Alfie down.’
The report mentioned companies concerned with the household had been usually ’hampered by two adults who sought to intentionally lie, mislead and canopy up what was taking place to this little boy’.
Eight suggestions for companies had been made within the report.
Carla Scott has been handed jail sentences totaling 27 years at Coventry Crown Courtroom for little one cruelty and the manslaughter of her son Alfie, who was overwhelmed and held down in a chilly tub
Physique cam cameras captured the touchdown filled with paramedics and officers with Scott standing within the doorway of a ’darkish, soiled and saggy’ bed room the place Alfie was discovered
Stephen Eccleston, chairman of Worcestershire Safeguarding Kids’s Partnership, mentioned: ’While the investigation and trial had been ongoing, the rapid studying from each this case and different little one safeguarding apply opinions has resulted in a change of safeguarding practices and actions.’
Rachel Jones, Assistant Chief Constable at West Mercia Police mentioned officers and employees had been given ’enhanced coaching…to make sure they absolutely perceive the indicators of vulnerability, that they’re professionally curious and do not take data on face worth’.
The power referred itself to the Impartial Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its involvement.
An IOPC spokesperson mentioned the overview was ongoing however had not recognized any conduct points for any officers concerned at this stage.
Alfie’s tragic timeline
2018 – Scott and Alfie transfer to Worcestershire. Alfie was topic to a toddler safety plan for neglect and he and his mom had been homeless.
August 2019 – Howell meets Scott. There are issues from household and neighbours about Howell’s legal historical past, his aggression, shouting at Alfie and hashish use. A earlier historical past of violence in the direction of others was disclosed however there was no report of Howell related to home abuse.
September 2019 – Howell’s lengthy legal historical past, marker for violence and drug dealing is mentioned in a method assembly. On the time Howell was below investigation for a housebreaking of an aged man the place firearms had been stolen. Scott, nevertheless, mentioned she didn’t imagine he posed a danger to her or Alfie.
October 2019 – Youngster safety and security plan agreed.
November 2019 – Neighbours share issues Howell is behaving cruelly to Alfie. Howell discovered to be within the dwelling by the police. Howell threatened neighbours with violence.
February 2020 – Neighbours elevate issues about anti-social behaviour by Scott and Howell within the type of events and loud music and Howell’s aggressiveness in response to complaints. Alfie reported to be hungry at school.
March 2020 – Scott bodily abusive to Alfie and there may be proof of Howell being drunk and aggressive to Alfie locally.
March 2020 – Covid pandemic and first lockdown. Modifications to working procedures for all companies. Colleges stay open to help weak kids, however Scott doesn’t permit Alfie to attend.
April 2020 – Additional issues from neighbours about Alfie, and Howell seen behaving inappropriately and aggressively to him.
April 2020 – Alfie’s head instructor raises issues concerning the lack of progress of the kid safety plan and elevated dangers to his welfare. Knowledgeable {that a} Authorized Planning Assembly could be convened.
Could 2020 – Authorized Planning Assembly held, at which it was determined a danger evaluation could be accomplished for Howell. Parenting evaluation to be made for Scott and Alfie’s father.
June 2020 – Howell caught shoplifting on two events. On the second he punched a feminine store assistant within the face. He was arrested and could be charged later.
July 2020 – At a gathering it was agreed the brink for care proceedings was not met. A toddler safety plan would proceed, however Howell was now allowed to be within the dwelling and required to have interaction with little one safety plan, and attend conferences together with a parenting course, and anger administration help.
July 2020 – A Youngster Safety Convention overview was rescheduled to October 2020 because of the native authority Covid preparations, which meant no kids had been faraway from little one safety plans throughout this era.
August 2020 – Neighbour shares concern with police that they’ll hear a toddler being harmed. This was responded to and denied by Scott. Howell not seen on the dwelling, however he subsequently threatens to burn neighbour’s dwelling down for sharing issues.
September 2020 – Alfie returns to highschool. Considerations about him being hungry and unkempt.
October 2020 – Howell was convicted of bodily assaulting a prepare guard. Two additional offences had been being investigated: a housebreaking and the assault of a store assistant.
November 2020 – Alfie’s college was nervous about him. He seemed unkempt, had a nasty ear an infection and appeared unsettled. These fears had been mentioned with the lead social employee. Uncorroborated data instructed Scott and Howell is perhaps dealing medicine from the house.
January 2021 – Change of social employee. The kid safety plan is reviewed. Neighbours are contacted who had been a part of the plan they usually expressed issues. The maternal grandparents in the meantime mentioned they had been unaware of the kid safety plan. Howell present in Scott’s bed room, having mentioned he was not within the dwelling. Scott asks for a special social employee.
February 2021 – Alfie was murdered.
