Homeless people's lives at risk in Torquay
Charity workers are warning that people may end up dying on the streets if a hostel for the homeless in Torquay shuts because of budget cuts
Toddler's death case review: A series of failures
More than 10 social workers and health workers have been sacked or resigned over the death of a two-year-old who was killed by his mother.
Model village celebrates its 50th birthday
It is the 50th anniversary of the Babbacombe model village. The Devon attraction now includes a model of the Shard to bring it up-to-date
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Homeless people's lives at risk in Torquay
Charity workers are warning that people may end up dying on the streets if a hostel for the homeless in Torquay shuts because of budget cuts
Read the full storyPolice response to inquest verdict
An inquest into the death of a 16 month old boy has found a suicidal taxi driver deliberately drove into the family's car, killing himself as well.
Oisin Two-mey was on holiday with his family in Devon in July when the crash happened. His father Con died later in hospital. His mother Elber survived but lost the baby daughter she was carrying.
– Chief Superintendent Jim Nye, head of operations for Devon and Cornwall PoliceThis incident had a devastating impact and led to the loss of four lives.
The effect on those families and the community was enormous as a result.
On this occasion police operated entirely in line with nationally agreed procedures and training.
This has been further evidenced in the independent IPCC report.
We hope the conclusion of this inquest will help all the families concerned gain some kind of closure on what has been a traumatic experience for all concerned.”
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Second phase of Torquay facelift
Traders in Torquay are to be consulted on improvements in the town by Torbay Council.
Businesses on Fleet Street will be asked for their views on the second phase of a £2.5 million pound regeneration of the centre.
Work on phase one of the scheme has just been completed.
Police officer calls ambulance for 'Halloween' injuries
Torquay Town Centre Police has tweeted about the "comedy moment" when a police officer mistakenly ordered an ambulance for a seriously injured man - only to find out his injuries were Halloween fancy dress.
The policeman requested an ambulance at 3am this morning after he believed the man had sustained serious head injuries following an altercation.
Police officer mistaking Halloween costume for serious head injury has to be the comedy moment of the night #Halloween #Bear #ENTE
Panel: Toddler's death 'could not have been predicted'
The panel conducting the Serious Case Review into Keanu Williams' murder agreed his death "could not have been predicted."
However, the report added that in view of his mother's background history, "It could have been predicted that Keanu was likely to suffer significant harm and should have been subject of a child protection plan on at least two occasions to address issues of neglect and physical harm."
Keanu, who was born in Torbay, died in Birmingham in January 2011 after suffering a skull fracture and a severe abdominal injury caused by his mother, Rebecca Shuttleworth.
The report made eight recommendations to the organisations involved in Keanu's care, with the review's author saying various agencies were guilty of a "loss of focus" after a core assessment made shortly before the toddler's first birthday.
Murdered toddler 'became invisible to the authorities'
Two-year-old Keanu Williams became "invisible" to the authorities while being subjected to months of cruelty, a damning report has found.
The Serious Case Review into the toddler's murder concluded that the professionals involved in his care failed to meet even basic standards of good practice.
Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board's independent report said child protection workers in various agencies "collectively failed" to prevent Keanu's death.
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NCB respond to toddler death serious case review
The National Children's Bureau (NCB) have responded to the serious case review into the death of two-year-old Keanu Williams who was beaten to death by his mother in 2011.
This case starkly demonstrates the unintended consequences of recent reforms to child protection; an overly bureaucratic process; lack of individual responsibility; increasingly complex organisational relationships and responsibilities; and no one advocating in the interests of the child.
It is particularly worrying that the review found that no conversations were held with Keanu to find out what he was feeling.
– Dr Hilary Emery, Chief Executive of the National Children’s BureauNo child at risk should ever be only seen and not heard. We urgently need to review how best to support children within the child protection system - especially the very young ones - to ensure their voices are listened to at every opportunity.
'Opportunity after opportunity to intervene was missed'
The Serious Case Review into Keanu Williams' death found the toddler died "because people missed opportunity after opportunity to intervene, and do something decisive to ensure he was safe and properly cared for."
The review, which was undertaken by the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB), stated that although some staff "did their best" for the two-year-old boy, others "did not comply with required practice, processes and procedures."
"Those staff have already been held to account for this by individual agencies," Jane Held, chairwoman of the BSCB said.
Murdered toddler 'failed by every agency'
A Serious Case Review into the death of a two-year-old boy who was beaten to death by his mother has found Keanu Williams died "because there was failure across every agency to see, hear and respond to him in the context of what he was experiencing at any one point in time."
Rebecca Shuttleworth, 25, is serving life in prison with a minimum term of 18 years for beating her son Keanu to death.
Toddler's death case review: A series of failures
More than 10 social workers and health workers have been sacked or resigned over the death of a two-year-old who was killed by his mother.
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