Death investigations- Children suspects and victims

Question 1

Children offenders

Answer 1

Children under 10 cannot be criminally liable

Social services can be informed but cannot be prosecuted

If under 14 defence can be made that they cannot form
mens rea

Can be rebutted if young person was deemed to have
‘mischievous discretion’ as with Thompson and Venables.

It is no longer a presumption- abolished by Crime and
Disorder Act 1998

Question 2

Juveniles

Answer 2

Juvenile, according to PACE 1984, is child under 17

Juvenile, according to Section 42, Criminal Justice
and Courts Act 2015 (CJCA) includes any child or
young person who appears to be under the age of 18

Question 3

Arrest of child offenders

Answer 3

Timing

Duration of time in custody should be kept to a minimum

Must adhere to Code G and section 38 (6) of PACE

Consider secure or local authority accommodation

Assess vulnerability

Risk assessment

Must be made aware of rights – and ensure understanding

Appropriate adult informed/attends

Question 4

Interviewing child offenders

Answer 4

Appropriate adults

Understand caution

Duration

Timing

No coercion, bullying or pressure

Language

Specialist interviewers

Question 5

James Bulger case example

Answer 5

James Bulger, born 16th March, 1990

Murdered 12th February, 1993

Snatched from outside a butcher’s shop in Bootle, Liverpool

Found on a railway line 2 days later, with multiple fractures,
42 injuries found at post mortem

Question 6

James Bulger case details

Answer 6

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables

Both 10 at time of offence

Both 11 when convicted

Convicted of murder

Detained at her Majesty’s pleasure with a minimum of 8 years

1994 – Increased to a minimum of 15 years

1997 – Overturned by House of Lords

Question 7

Victoria Climbie case study

Answer 7

Victoria Climbie

2 November, 1991- 25 February, 2000

Murdered by guardians, Marie-Therese Kouao &
Carl Manning

Question 8

Death investigations

Answer 8

The Victoria Climbie Inquiry

Report by Lord Laming

108 recommendations

Police will see child before taking into protection,
prioritise child protection, ensure managers attend
strategy meetings, utilise trained officers, utilise
available technology.

Question 9

Baby P case study

Answer 9

Baby Peter Connelly

1 March 2006-3 August 2007

Tracey Connelly ( mum) Steven Barker ( boyfriend)
Jason Owen ( brother)

Question 10

Child victims

Answer 10

The Baby P Inquiry

Report by Lord Laming

Lack of communication between agencies, lack of
funding, lack of training

Question 11

Child abuse fatalities during COVID pandemic

Answer 11

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes – 6yr old

Star Hobson- 16mths

Finley Boden- 10mths

Jacob Crouch- 10mths

Question 12

COVID pandemic continued

Answer 12

There is growing evidence to suggest that the Covid-19
lockdown, which began in March 2020, significantly hindered the
ability of services to protect children from harm.

Government figures show there were 223 child deaths involving
abuse or neglect in 2020-21, up from 188 the previous year – a
figure that also includes looked-after children.

Contacts to the NSPCC’s helpline from adults with concerns
about the wellbeing of a child increased by 23% from the
previous year to a record high of almost 85,000 in 2020-21