A ‘misleading’ figure included in a major government watchdog report has led to a false and vastly inflated picture of the numbers of children who die from abuse in England.
The revelation comes as an Observer investigation today reveals there has been a huge surge in applications to place children into care since the furore over the Baby P case erupted earlier this month. Amid a public clamour for tougher child protection measures, nervous social workers are pressing for the removal of any child suspected of being at risk of abuse.
