meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Today in Focus

The death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and the crisis in social work

Today in Focus

The Guardian

News, Daily News

4.65.9K Ratings

🗓️ 8 December 2021

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The tragic case of an abused six-year-old in the West Midlands has put a renewed focus on the challenges facing social workers, social policy editor Patrick Butler reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is the Guardian.

0:10.4

Today, a six-year-old boy killed by the people who are meant to care for him.

0:16.0

What can social services learn from the case of Arthur L'Abbinio Hughes?

0:20.0

The death of six-year-old Arthur L'Abbinio Hughes in Solihul in the West Midlands has been so horrifying.

0:26.0

You might have done your best to avoid learning about the cruelty inflicted on this little boy.

0:32.0

For a child, decide to take the child away from the child.

0:36.0

The death of six-year-old Arthur L'Abbinio Hughes in Solihul in the West Midlands has been so horrifying.

0:42.0

You might have done your best to avoid learning about the cruelty inflicted on this little boy.

0:47.0

For a child, decide to his own dad, I'm in danger with you, daddy.

0:53.0

He must have had this sense of impending doom that something was going to happen to him.

0:59.0

And yet, Arthur's tragic story isn't a one-off.

1:05.0

Last year, around 55 children were killed as a result of abuse or neglect.

1:11.0

So, it's happening all the time, but occasionally one case like this will come to the fore and catch the imagination ready for the public.

1:22.0

The Guardian's social policy editor, Patrick Butler, has been following Arthur's case and what it exposes about Britain's social care system.

1:29.0

Last week, Arthur's father and his father's partner were sentenced to 21 and 29 years for manslaughter, murder and child cruelty.

1:41.0

There's been an outpouring of grief, shock and outrage.

1:46.0

And now, the government has launched an urgent new inquiry on social services.

1:50.0

No government anywhere in the world can legislate for evil, but we will take action wherever we can to stop it from happening again because we must do more.

2:05.0

From the Guardian, I'm not sheenick Val, today in focus, after the death of Arthur Libinio Hughes,

2:12.0

and a new review of child protection services reform a system under strain.

2:24.0

Patrick Butler, you're the Guardian's social policy editor and you've been reporting on the tragic death of Arthur Libinio Hughes.

2:30.0

And we've seen his image all over the front pages. This smiley little boy who suffered such a tragic end to his life.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Guardian, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Guardian and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.