Child safe guarding review into Star Hobson's murder delayed
The report was set to be published in January 2022
Last updated 24th Jan 2022
A child safe guarding review, into the murder of 16 month old Star Hobson has been delayed.
The report was set to be published in January 2022, but the council says a 'considerable amount of detailed evidence' emerged during the murder trial, which wasn't available to the author of the review.
Star Hobson was murdered by her mother, Frankie Smith’s partner, Savannah Brockhill, on 22 September 2020.
In December, Frankie Smith was convicted of causing or allowing the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Star Hobson and sentenced to 8 years.
Brockhill was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years.
Jane Booth, Chair of The Bradford Partnership – Working Together to Safeguard Children
“Following detailed discussions between the National Panel and the safeguarding partnership for the Bradford District we have taken the decision to do further work to the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review into how agencies responded to the events leading up to the terrible murder of Star Hobson. This means that we will not be in a position to publish the review in January 2022 as we had originally projected.
“Many people will be aware that a considerable amount of detailed evidence emerged during the murder trial. Not all this evidence was available to the independent author of the review. Both the National Panel and our partnership have agreed that this mass of evidence needs to be looked at in great depth to make sure the review’s recommendations are as robust as they can be so that learning for all agencies is captured.
“Following the trial the author has now also been able to speak directly with Star’s family and we want their views to be fully reflected in the final report. We also want to work closely with those reviewing the case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to understand common themes across both cases.
“We know that not being able to publish the review in January is disappointing, particularly for the family and friends of Star, but we owe it to Star to make sure that the findings of the review take account of all the facts that emerged during the trial. It is vital that we all – partner agencies, staff and our communities - have full confidence in the review’s recommendations and the actions that our partnership will need to take in the future to better protect children.
“We will announce a new publication date in due course.”