Police and social providers obtained 64 calls about Alfie Steele

On Jan 26, 2024

Alfie died in February 2021 at Scott’s property in Droitwich, Worcestershire

Published: 17:20, 26 January 2024 | Updated: 21:10, 26 January 2024

More than 60 calls have been made to police and social providers earlier than a nine-year-old boy was killed by his mom and her associate throughout a pandemic lockdown.

A Freedom of knowledge request discovered West Mercia Police and Worcestershire County Council have been contacted about Alfie Steele 64 occasions between them over a three-year interval earlier than his demise.

The figures have been launched yesterday as a safeguarding youngsters report was revealed which laid naked a string of missed alternatives to intervene.

Alfie died in February 2021 at Scott’s new-build housing affiliation property in Droitwich, Worcestershire, the place he suffered ‘sadistic’ punishments together with beatings and being held below bathtub water.

A trial heard the sports-mad schoolboy was locked out of the home or in a shed – the place he could be pressured to face nonetheless – or whipped with belts throughout a ‘sinister’ regime of correction and abuse by his mom Carla Scott and her profession felony lover Dirk Howell.

Alfie Steele died in February 2021 at Scott's new-build housing association property in Droitwich, Worcestershire, where he suffered 'sadistic' punishments including beatings and being held under bath water

Alfie Steele died in February 2021 at Scott’s new-build housing affiliation property in Droitwich, Worcestershire, the place he suffered ‘sadistic’ punishments together with beatings and being held below bathtub water

Dirk Howell, who has been jailed at Coventry Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 32 years for murdering nine-year-old Alfie Steele

Dirk Howell, who has been jailed at Coventry Crown Court for all times with a minimal time period of 32 years for murdering nine-year-old Alfie Steele

Jurors heard involved neighbours and even passers-by on the street reported the therapy doled out by Howell, 41, and Scott, 35 – who they mentioned turned a blind eye – to police, social providers, the council and Alfie’s college. Six months earlier than Alfie died, a neighbour made a harrowing 999 name reporting ‘thrashing’ sounds coming from the lavatory ‘like they’re actually hurting him’.

Six missed probabilities to avoid wasting Alfie

A assessment of social providers and police contact with a nine-year-old boy earlier than he was killed by his mom and stepfather has discovered he was classed as ‘secure and properly’ after residence visits when he was not spoken to.

The 23-page assessment mentioned: ‘There have been six recognized incidents of concern raised with the police or youngsters’s providers about neighbours or college workers considerations about bodily abuse or Dirk Howell’s harsh and merciless practices to Alfie.

‘Each incident could be adopted up by a police or social employee go to. There was inconsistency when Alfie was spoken to, made sophisticated by his age and on some events the lateness within the day of the go to.

‘Too typically he was described as ‘secure and properly’ when he had not been spoken to.

‘The police didn’t at all times comply with via on accidents famous to Alfie. There have been at all times causal explanations given by Alfie or Carla Scott, however given the context, there ought to have been extra thought given to making sure that accidents have been checked via medical examination.

‘These incidents ought to have led to a technique dialogue and consideration of the necessity for baby safety medicals.

‘This assessment has discovered that pals, neighbours and other people in the neighborhood took nice dangers to make sure that Alfie could possibly be secure, and abuse and neglect addressed.

‘The assessment want to thank them for all that they did, with the chance of violence and retribution from Dirk Howell.

‘When Dirk Howell threatened the neighbours with violence and arson, they mentioned they didn’t wish to pursue a criticism as a result of they have been frightened about repercussions. More may have been executed to help them via a dialogue of bail circumstances and protecting motion.

‘In the interval below assessment there was an over-reliance on Alfie to share considerations and proof that he was being abused and harmed. He was constantly requested if he had any worries, whether or not he appreciated Dirk Howell and what had occurred within the context of allegations of abuse and aggression.

‘Throughout the assessment course of there was an absence of debate of Alfie’s lived expertise and reflection on the distinction between what was recognized about what life was like and what he mentioned about it.’

Alfie died after being discovered unresponsive in bathtub water, with Scott claiming he had fallen asleep whereas bathing.

Howell was sentenced to not less than 32 years in jail for homicide final 12 months after a trial at Coventry Crown Court. Scott was jailed for manslaughter with a minimal tariff of 17 years.

The Freedom of Information requests by the BBC found Worcestershire County Council was contacted 36 occasions between 2018 and 2020 by individuals who have been involved about Alfie’s welfare.

West Mercia Police have been contacted 28 occasions throughout the identical interval.

Some incidents of concern raised about bodily abuse or Howell’s ‘harsh and merciless’ practices have been adopted up by a police or social employee go to, the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership report mentioned.

But, it added, ‘too typically he was described as secure and properly when he had not been spoken to.

‘Over the interval of this assessment there have been many incidents of concern, they have been completely different in nature, however all have been handled in isolation from one another and weren’t mentioned holistically within the context of joint enquiries between the police and kids’s providers.’

Alfie had been on the radar of social providers since he was a younger boy and had been topic to a toddler safety plan for neglect in 2018, the identical 12 months Scott moved with him from her residence city of Wolverhampton to Droitwich.

She met Howell, who had a felony historical past stretching again three many years, the next 12 months.

By that August, the report mentioned family and neighbours had raised considerations about Howell’s criminality, aggression and drug use, prompting a safeguarding technique dialogue.

More neighbours raised considerations in 2020, alongside Alfie’s headmaster, however at a gathering in July – a month after Howell had been caught shoplifting – it was agreed the brink for care proceedings was not met. In August, neighbours warned police they’ll hear a toddler being harmed. Scott denied the suggestion, earlier than Howell then threatened to burn the neighbour’s residence down for blowing the whistle – leaving the resident too scared to pursue a criticism. The report concluded that ‘extra may have been executed to help’ the neighbour’.

Howell was then topic to a few additional police investigations for assaults and housebreaking, the place a set of shotguns had been taken from an aged man’s gun cupboard, whereas the authorities additionally obtained data that Howell and Scott could also be drug-dealing from residence.

At the time of his demise, Alfie had greater than 50 accidents on his physique.

Paul Scott, Alfie’s grandfather, mentioned: ‘We reported Howell many times to social providers and nothing was executed.

‘Nobody joined the dots; so many probabilities have been missed.

‘They know they let Alfie down.’

The report mentioned businesses concerned with the household have been typically ‘hampered by two adults who sought to intentionally lie, mislead and canopy up what was taking place to this little boy’.

Eight suggestions for businesses have been made within the report.

Carla Scott has been handed jail sentences totaling 27 years at Coventry Crown Court for child cruelty and the manslaughter of her nine-year-old son Alfie Steele, who was beaten and held down in a cold bath

Carla Scott has been handed jail sentences totaling 27 years at Coventry Crown Court for baby cruelty and the manslaughter of her nine-year-old son Alfie Steele, who was overwhelmed and held down in a chilly bathtub

Body cam cameras captured the landing full of paramedics and officers with Scott standing in the doorway of a 'dark, dirty and dishevelled' bedroom where Alfie Steele was found

Body cam cameras captured the touchdown stuffed with paramedics and officers with Scott standing within the doorway of a ‘darkish, soiled and baggy’ bed room the place Alfie Steele was discovered

Stephen Eccleston, chairman of Worcestershire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, mentioned: ‘Whilst the investigation and trial have been ongoing, the speedy studying from each this case and different baby safeguarding apply evaluations has resulted in a change of safeguarding practices and actions.’

Rachel Jones, Assistant Chief Constable at West Mercia Police mentioned officers and workers had been given ‘enhanced coaching…to make sure they absolutely perceive the indicators of vulnerability, that they’re professionally curious and do not take data on face worth’.

The drive referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its involvement.

An IOPC spokesperson mentioned the assessment was ongoing however had not recognized any conduct points for any officers concerned at this stage.

Alfie’s tragic timeline

2018 – Scott and Alfie transfer to Worcestershire. Alfie was topic to a toddler safety plan for neglect and he and his mom have been homeless.

August 2019 – Howell meets Scott. There are considerations from household and neighbours about Howell’s felony historical past, his aggression, shouting at Alfie and hashish use. A earlier historical past of violence in the direction of others was disclosed however there was no file of Howell related to home abuse.

September 2019 – Howell’s lengthy felony historical past, marker for violence and drug dealing is mentioned in a technique assembly. At the time Howell was below investigation for a housebreaking of an aged man the place firearms have been stolen. Scott, nonetheless, mentioned she didn’t consider he posed a threat to her or Alfie.

October 2019 – Child safety and security plan agreed.

November 2019 – Neighbours share considerations Howell is behaving cruelly to Alfie. Howell discovered to be within the residence by the police. Howell threatened neighbours with violence.

February 2020 – Neighbours increase considerations about anti-social behaviour by Scott and Howell within the type of events and loud music and Howell’s aggressiveness in response to complaints. Alfie reported to be hungry at school.

March 2020 – Scott bodily abusive to Alfie and there may be proof of Howell being drunk and aggressive to Alfie in the neighborhood.

March 2020 – Covid pandemic and first lockdown. Changes to working procedures for all businesses. Schools stay open to help susceptible youngsters, however Scott doesn’t permit Alfie to attend.

April 2020 – Further considerations from neighbours about Alfie, and Howell seen behaving inappropriately and aggressively to him.

April 2020 – Alfie’s head trainer raises considerations concerning the lack of progress of the kid safety plan and elevated dangers to his welfare. Informed {that a} Legal Planning Meeting could be convened.

May 2020 – Legal Planning Meeting held, at which it was determined a threat evaluation could be accomplished for Howell. Parenting evaluation to be made for Scott and Alfie’s father.

June 2020 – Howell caught shoplifting on two events. On the second he punched a feminine store assistant within the face. He was arrested and could be charged later.

July 2020 – At a gathering it was agreed the brink for care proceedings was not met. A baby safety plan would proceed, however Howell was now allowed to be within the residence and required to interact with baby safety plan, and attend conferences together with a parenting course, and anger administration help.

July 2020 – A Child Protection Conference assessment was rescheduled to October 2020 because of the native authority Covid preparations, which meant no youngsters have been faraway from baby safety plans throughout this era

August 2020 – Neighbour shares concern with police that they’ll hear a toddler being harmed. This was responded to and denied by Scott. Howell not seen on the residence, however he subsequently threatens to burn neighbour’s residence down for sharing considerations.

September 2020 – Alfie returns to highschool. Concerns about him being hungry and unkempt.

October 2020 – Howell was convicted of bodily assaulting a prepare guard. Two additional offences have been being investigated: a housebreaking and the assault of a store assistant.

November 2020 – Alfie’s college was frightened about him. He appeared unkempt, had a nasty ear an infection and appeared unsettled. Those fears have been mentioned with the lead social employee. Uncorroborated data prompt Scott and Howell could be dealing medication from the house.

January 2021 – Change of social employee. The baby safety plan is reviewed. Neighbours are contacted who have been a part of the plan and so they expressed considerations. The maternal grandparents in the meantime mentioned they have been unaware of the kid safety plan. Howell present in Scott’s bed room, having mentioned he was not within the residence. Scott asks for a distinct social employee.

February 2021 – Alfie was murdered.

Coronavirus Lockdowns