NSPCC apologises for delay in referral

NSPCC
chief executive Mary Marsh said the charity had never attempted to
alter records or deceive the Climbie inquiry. She apologised for
the NSPCC’s failure to act in a “timely, adequate and appropriate
way” with a referral about Victoria from Haringey social services
to its Tottenham child and family centre.

The
allocation of the referral was delayed for a week because of
“family activity events” at the centre, which should not have
happened, said Marsh. And, although there had not been any obvious
child protection concerns, there were several points that should
have alerted them to the possibility of further concerns that
should have been pursued promptly.

In her
closing summary, she said: “We accept our fault in this case. It
should not have been possible for this referral to have been left
without any follow-up apparently for so long.”