The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a report (March 11, 2025) highlighting the failures in safeguarding Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage children from abuse, neglect, and fatal harm. The report examined 53 cases of serious harm or death between January 2022 and March 2024, finding significant gaps in recognising race and racism in child protection services.
Key Findings of the Report
- 27 of the 53 children in the study died due to abuse or neglect.
- Race and ethnicity were largely ignored in safeguarding reviews.
- Racial bias and racism were not adequately considered in decision-making.
- Some disclosures of abuse were dismissed, particularly involving Asian and Mixed Asian Heritage girls.
- Concerns about racism raised by families were often disregarded in reviews.
According to Annie Hudson, Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel:
“Racism is insidious, pervasive, and deeply embedded in society. We must reflect on how racial bias impacts child protection decisions.”
Lack of Focus on Race and Racism in Child Protection
The report identifies a pattern of silence around race and racism in safeguarding practice:
- Failure to acknowledge racial bias resulted in missed opportunities to protect children.
- Risk assessments often lacked action, even when abuse concerns were raised.
- Families who reported racist treatment were ignored, with no proper investigations.
Jahnine Davis, the report’s lead author, emphasized the need for change:
“The silence around race and racism in child safeguarding is deeply concerning. We must challenge policies, practices, and biases to ensure children are properly protected.”
Missed Opportunities and Case Examples
- In 19 cases, risks were partially recognised but not acted upon.
- Several Asian and Mixed Asian Heritage girls reported sexual abuse, but their claims were dismissed or not followed up properly.
- In one case, a family raised concerns about racism among professionals, but the safeguarding review failed to investigate the claims.
The failure to properly address these concerns left children vulnerable to further harm.
Recommendations for Improvement
The Panel’s report outlines key steps to improve the safeguarding of Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage children:
1. Acknowledge and Challenge Racism
- Local safeguarding leaders must ensure anti-racism policies are in place.
- Agencies should actively discuss race and identity in child protection cases.
2. Empower Practitioners to Talk About Race
- Professionals need training and support to have honest conversations about race and racism.
- Safeguarding teams should create safe spaces for reflection on biases.
3. Review Local Strategies on Race and Safeguarding
- Child Safeguarding Partnerships should evaluate how racial bias impacts decision-making.
- Policies must ensure that race and ethnicity are properly considered in child protection cases.
Government Response
Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby, condemned racial bias in child safeguarding:
“Racism and racial bias should never prevent children from getting the protection they need. I urge all professionals to challenge these injustices.”
The UK Government’s Plan for Change aims to:
- Improve information sharing between social care, health, and education.
- Prevent vulnerable children from being overlooked due to bias.
Over-Representation of Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Safeguarding Cases
The report also highlighted racial disparities in child protection cases:
- Black children made up 10% of safeguarding reviews, despite being only 6% of the child population in England.
- Mixed Heritage children were involved in 17% of cases, yet they represent only 7% of the population.
- Asian children, however, were under-represented, making up 5% of cases despite being 12% of the child population.
This data raises concerns about the disproportionate scrutiny of Black and Mixed Heritage children, while Asian children may be overlooked in safeguarding.
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has made it clear: race and racism must be openly discussed in child protection. The failure to acknowledge racial bias has left children at risk and prevented them from getting the support they need.
This report serves as a wake-up call for all safeguarding professionals to challenge racial bias, act on disclosures of abuse, and ensure all children, regardless of their background, are protected from harm.
Jahnine Davis concludes:
“This is a call to action. The silence must end now.”
