Police and social providers obtained 64 calls about Alfie Steele
- Alfie died in February 2021 at Scott’s property in Droitwich, Worcestershire
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/26/17/80512929-13010955-image-a-14_1706288786012.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/26/17/80512937-13010955-image-a-15_1706288799180.jpg)
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’.
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/26/17/80512957-13010955-image-a-17_1706288840455.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/26/17/80512953-13010955-image-a-16_1706288838287.jpg)
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.