Vile thugs who beat children exploiting 'loophole' - but Labour vote against closing it

Vile thugs who abuse and terrorise children are exploiting a loophole "that puts all our" youngsters at risk, ministers have been warned.

Campaigner Paula Hudgell, whose adopted son Tony was horrifically assaulted by his birth parents, delivered a message to MPs on the importance of a national Child Abuse Register.

Similar to the sex offenders register, it would require anyone who has served their sentence for child cruelty offences to notify the police of their personal details, and to keep it updated.

But Labour MPs rejected the plea, with Justice Minister Jake Richards promising that the Government would instead consider it in the coming weeks.

Shadow Solicitor General Helen Grant fought back tears as she read out a message from Paula, which said: "No child should ever endure what Tony went through. The suffering he experienced as a baby changed all of our lives forever.

"For the past seven years, I have fought tirelessly for a child cruelty register, and this is because I believe those who commit such horrific crimes against children should never be allowed to simply disappear from the system once their sentence ends.

"The register would mean proper monitoring, accountability and protection, not just for Tony, but for every child in our country. It is heartbreaking that right now, known abusers can change their names, move to new areas, form new relationships, have more children, without any requirement to tell the authorities.

"This is a loophole that puts all of our children at risk."

Tony was just 41 days old when his biological mother and father, Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith, attacked him, causing multiple fractures and dislocations, and blunt trauma to the face, leading to organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis.

He was left untreated and in agony for 10 days and, because of the extent of his injuries, both his legs had to be amputated.

Simpson and Smith were jailed for 10 years in 2018. They served eight years behind bars, but were recently released, and will be managed and monitored by police and probation for the remaining two years of their sentences.

Ms Grant said that her constituent Tony, now 11, and his adoptive mother Paula are the most "courageous, driven, united mother and son team" she has ever met.

She argued that there is a "dangerous gap in our child protection system" that means Simpson and Smith will face no further monitoring when they finish their respective sentences.

She told MPs: "There's nothing, zero, no management, no monitoring, no reporting requirements if they change their name, start a new family, move county, have more children, and their case details will be archived, thus leaving a terrible and dangerous gap in our child protection system."

The Conservatives have called for notification requirements for child cruelty offenders to be added to the Government's Sentencing Bill with their New Clause 20. Tabling the new clause, shadow justice minister Kieran Mullen said it is a "clear and proven step that we can take toward improving how we protect our children".

However, MPs rejected the new clause by 311 vote to 182, majority 129.

Justice minister Jake Richards said: "It would be wrong to legislate now without a fuller or even basic understanding of whether we have the capacity to deliver a register as is proposed safely."

Intervening, Ms Grant said: "Will he bring forward a Government amendment to introduce a child cruelty register when the Bill moves to the House of Lords?"

Mr Richards replied: "We will be speaking with Home Office colleagues and others to look at the possibility of doing that, absolutely.

"And she has my word, as (does) her constituent, who is no doubt watching this debate carefully, that I will be working at speed on this, but what I do not want to do is make promises that the Government cannot keep.

"And so it's absolutely vital that we do the work - we understand the burden this will place on the services that will need to take this work to make sure this is done."

As she advocated for the child cruelty register, Ms Grant recalled her more than 20 years as a legal aid family lawyer specialising in child abuse and domestic violence, and the "viscous circle" she witnessed of abusers going to prison, getting released and then going back to abusing their families.

She said: "Most days of the week, I would attend various county courts around the southeast of the country, obtaining non-molestation injunctions and occupation orders for mainly women and children.

"Some perpetrators also went to prison, following criminal proceedings, but upon release, far too many would go straight back round to their former homes and abused their families all over again. It was like a vicious circle.

"And the point I want to make here is that prison can, of course, be a good rehabilitation, but tragically, many upon leaving prison remain a risk. And as parliamentarians, we must do all that we can when we have the chance to manage and eradicate that risk."

She added: "Experience has shown me, and it really has, that people who commit serious crimes often move around. They move counties. They deliberately avoid detection by not registering with health services, social services and other agencies.

"And the notification requirement in the amendment would serve as a good single identifier that would help to stop some families slipping through the net."