THE great grandfather of Star Hobson has backed the Government’s new Child Protection Authority designed to protect children from predators and abuse.
The Child Protection Authority will be tasked with identifying emerging threats and increasing accountability across the system designed to care for children.
The proposals for a new public body are hoped to strengthen England’s child protection system and make sure vulnerable children are not failed by authorities which are supposed to protect them.
Safeguarding failures allowed grooming gangs to operate in many towns and cities and led to horrifying cases like that of Sara Sharif, who was murdered by her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool on August 8, 2023.
It is more than half a decade since Keighley tot Star Hobson was murdered. She was 16 months old.
Star died from catastrophic abdominal injuries caused by blunt force trauma on September 22, 2020.
Savannah Brockhill, the girlfriend of Star's mother Frankie Smith, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of Star at their flat in Wesley Place, Keighley.
Meanwhile, Smith was initially jailed for eight years for causing, or allowing, her death. She was cleared of murder and manslaughter but convicted of causing or allowing the death of her daughter.
But Smith’s sentence was quashed at the Court of Appeal and extended to 12 years, which she must serve in a Young Offender's Institution.
There are other cases like Maya Chappell, who was killed by her mum's partner, Michael Daymond, in September 2022.
Michael Daymond took his frustrations out on Maya at her home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.
He was jailed for life in 2023, with the judge describing him as a 'monster'.
Dana Carr was also locked up for turning a blind eye to the abuse in the weeks prior to Maya's death.
Star’s great grandfather, David Fawcett, said he supports anything that will prevent families going through the pain he knows far too well.
“It brings it all back to us,” David said.
“I remember when this happened to Star, we hoped it wouldn’t happen to any more children.
“We try to do anything we can to stop it.
“It’s about looking out for the signs when you get those controlling partners."
One of the changes that Maya’s Law is calling for is a child risk disclosure scheme (CRDS) which allows police, social care, and health services to share information about a caregiver’s history before harm occurs.
Speaking about the loss of Star, David said: “The pain doesn’t go away. It’s there all the time. I wake up and first thing think about Star. I’ve just been down to her grave getting it all ready for Christmas, thinking she should be here with us.
“It’s heartbreaking how we got to this situation. We’ve just got to learn to live with it. We’ll never get over it. That’s how I’ve sort of handled it myself."
The Child Protection Authority comes alongside a broad package of measures being introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Sir David Holmes, child safeguarding practice review panel chair, said: "Every child deserves to grow up safe from harm, abuse, and neglect. The panel’s work is driven by this principle. That’s why we support the Government’s decision to establish a Child Protection Authority in England - a significant step forward in creating a clearer, more unified child protection system."
What has Bradford Council said?
A spokesperson for Bradford Council said: “Nothing is more important than keeping our children safe.
"Child abuse, in whatever form it takes, is a horrendous crime. We welcome the Government’s decision to consult on the setting up of a national Child Protection Authority which was one of the recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), published in 2022.
"This is a national issue, so careful thought will be needed about how such an agency would add value to existing arrangements and the consultation demonstrates that the Government is thinking this through carefully. We will be working with our partners locally to respond to the consultation.”
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