Death of a Son

Product Information

The independent review into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rochdale examined the council’s response to issues around child sexual exploitation (CSE), after 47 girls were identified as victims of CSE (Klonowski, 2013). 13 Now, statutory child protection guidance across the UK is regularly reviewed and updated in consultation with stakeholders. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognised breast flattening (the practice of using hard or heated objects to suppress or reverse the growth of breasts) as a form of child abuse in England and Wales (CPS, 2019). 23 Often relying on her local mobile library, she built up a knowledge from scratch that meant she was able to disprove one of the key issues of the case - that the drug could not be held directly responsible for John’s death, and revolutionise pathology in the process. However, it was a need to mourn properly, and escape the glare of publicity, that brought them to Yarmouth in 1990 - a place of happy memories for them and John, who had been in the town just days before his death.

Death of a Son opened the fifth season of Screen Two productions on Sunday, January 8th 1989, and starred the late Oscar-nominated and award winning actress Lynn Redgrave (Georgy Girl, The Virgin Soldiers), and Malcolm Storry (Firefox, Under Suspicion) as Pauline and Ray Williams. In 1986 Pauline Williams, a Luton housewife, became the first person in Britain ever to bring a successful private prosecution for manslaughter. The story begain in 1982 when John Williams, Pauline and Rays 19 year old son, died from an overdose of the drug Palfium. In spite of the inquest jurys verdict of unlawful killing, the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled that charges were not to be brought against the drug dealer who injected John with the fatal overdose. Both Pauline and Ray found this ruling impossible to accept, and so began a remarkable individual battle. Death of a Son is the powerful and moving stroy of what happened to the Williams family; of how Pauline took on the full weight of the British medical and legal establishment - and won. For after three years of campaigning and studying, Pauline finally proved to the DPP that there was a case of manslaughter to answer. She also liked us because when she called in to see us from time to time we would never tell the media.” Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) (2022) The report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. [Accessed 20/10/2022].

No Results

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published its final report into child sexual abuse and exploitation in institutions in England and Wales (IICSA, 2022) 31. The report sets out findings and common themes arising from the work of the Inquiry and made 20 recommendations for reform for the UK and Welsh governments and other institutions 2023 – government sets out plans to reform children’s social care in England and responds to IICSA’s recommendations To produce an annual report for CDR partners on local patterns and trends in child deaths, any lessons learnt and actions taken, and the effectiveness of the wider child death review process; and MacAlister, J. (2022) The independent review of children's social care: final report. [Accessed 16/08/2023]. Pauline, who emphasised they have never benefitted financially from the movie, described the late Ms Redgrave as “an absolutely lovely lady, who would pop into our house from time to time and, and had never smoked a cigarette until she played me, though I never smoked as much as they made me out to. The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 made it a statutory aggravation for domestic abuse to involve or affect a child (this includes a child hearing, seeing or being present during an abusive incident). 2019 – New guidance in Wales and UN rights in Scotland

Though it meant the family had to sell many of their possessions, Pauline’s work made her a national figure in the fight against drugs. The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, also commissioned Professor Eileen Munro to conduct an independent review of child protection in England. 2011 – Munro review in England, Safeguarding Boards and UNOCINI in Northern Ireland, and children's rights in Wales The Scottish Government abolished the defence of reasonable chastisement from November 2020 under the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019. Klonowski, A (2013) Report of the Independent Reviewing Officer in relation to child sexual exploitation issues in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council during the period 2006 to 2013. [Rochdale]: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (no longer available). The Children Act 2004, informed by Lord Laming’s report, established a Children’s Commissioner in England (the last of the UK nations to appoint one); created Local Safeguarding Children's Boards (LSCBs) in England and Wales; and placed a duty on local authorities in England to appoint a director of children’s services and an elected lead member for children’s services, who is ultimately accountable for the delivery of services.

See also

Read Getting it right for every child (2006) via our library catalogue 2007 – Protection of Vulnerable Groups in Northern Ireland and Scotland An updated version of Working together to safeguard children (DfE, 2018) was published for England, replacing Local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) with safeguarding partner arrangements. 21 The need to improve the system contributed to the development of stronger measures to enable professionals working with children to recognise and respond to child abuse and neglect, including the Children Act 1975. The first formal child death inquiry took place in England in 1945 into the death of Dennis O'Neill, who was killed at the age of 12 by his foster father. Read more about the inquiry report on our library catalogue 1946 – Curtis committee and Clyde committee

Laming, L (2003) The Victoria Climbie inquiry: report of an inquiry by Lord Laming (PDF). Norwich: The Stationery Office (TSO). The child death review process covers all children; a child is defined in the Children Act 1989 as a person under 18 years of age. A child death review must be carried out for all children regardless of the cause of death. This will include the death of any new-born baby (of any gestation) who shows signs of life following birth, or where the birth was unattended, but does not include those (of any gestation) who are stillborn where there was medical attendance, or planned terminations of pregnancy carried out within the law. The purpose of a child death review is to identify any matters relating to the death, or deaths, that are relevant to the welfare of children in the area or to public health and safety, and to consider whether action should be taken in relation to any matters identified. Where it is found that action should be taken by a person or organisation, they will be informed. Contents The Wales Safeguarding Procedures were published to provide guidance on safeguarding children and adults who are at risk of abuse and neglect (Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2019). 22 Since then, the couple, who have an older son, have offered a helping hand to those who need it most. Whether assisting with murder cases, launching anti drug campaigns and spreading the word in schools, their efforts brought international attention and a letter of support from US President Ronald Reagan.Department of Education (2023) Stable homes, built on love: implementation strategy and consultation: children’s social care reform (PDF). [Accessed 03/02/2023]. The Scottish Government announced its intention to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scottish law (Scottish Government, 2019). 24 2020 – Safeguarding during coronavirus and corporal punishment made illegal in Jersey, Scotland and Wales The conditions created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic meant that everyone working with children and families had to adapt the way they keep children safe. Governments in all four UK nations published a range of safeguarding and child protection guidance during the pandemic. Legislation to prosecute people accused of child cruelty has been in force since the 1880s. Over time a range of factors, including some high profile child abuse deaths and subsequent inquiries, have contributed to the development of the child protection system we have in the UK today.