Summons a new unit to investigate child cruelty and prevent further tragedy

A new report calls on police, health sector and social work experts to form teams in each area of ​​local government to investigate allegations of cruelty and abuse of children

Special child protection units should be set up across the country to investigate allegations of harm being done to young people, according to a report.

The recommendation follows a major review launched last year following the horrific murders of 16-month-old Star Hobson and six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

The report says child protection in England needs “a fundamental change” if further tragedy is to be averted.

It calls for experts from the police, health sector and social work to form teams in each community area to investigate allegations of abuse.

The review revealed shortcomings in the cooperation between the agencies.

It meant abuse concerns were not properly investigated.

Annie Hudson, chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, which conducted the review, said: “Right now, every professional who comes into contact with a child holds a piece of the puzzle of what happens in a child’s life.

“Our proposed reforms would bring experts … together as a team so they could get a better picture of what happens to a child.”

Star, from Keighley, West Yorks, suffered a campaign of abuse that resulted in her death in 2020.

Her mother, Frankie Smith, 20, was jailed for causing or allowing the death.

Smith’s partner Savannah Brockhill, 28, was convicted of murder.

Arthur, from Solihull, West Mids, was beaten and tortured.

He died of a brain injury in 2020. His father Thomas Hughes, 29, was convicted of manslaughter and stepmother Emma Tustin, 32, was found guilty of murder.