Review of murdered girl’s care confirmed

Birmingham Council confirmed last week that it was conducting a
thorough review of the management of the care of Toni-Ann Byfield,
who was murdered with her father in north London earlier this month
while she was in the council’s care.

The seven year old is believed to have moved from her foster home
in Birmingham to live with relatives in Brent, north London,
shortly before her death.

Peter Hay, strategic director of social care and health, said that
agreeing to Toni-Ann’s wishes to have contact with her father had
“exposed her to risks related to her father’s criminality”.

However, he insisted all decisions made about Toni-Ann’s welfare
were driven and agreed “by the courts in line with the Children
Act”.