Intervention might have prevented Arthur's murder - report

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died in Solihull in 2020

A review into the death of a six-year-old at the hands of his father and stepmother has found three critical opportunities to save him were missed by authorities.

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died in Solihull in 2020 after being tortured by Thomas Hughes and Emma Tustin, who were jailed for manslaughter and murder respectively.

A photo police received depicted injuries consistent with actual bodily harm and had they investigated, it was possible Arthur may have been removed from a "pathway to harm", an independent review for Solihull Council stated.

The local authority said it would use findings to ensure it was making all necessary changes. West Midlands Police said it would "embrace the learning".

Both defendants were found guilty. Tustin murdered the boy by causing a fatal head injury at her home on 16 June.

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Ineqe Safeguarding Group's report said the first of those opportunities related to the police response to a social services emergency duty team request for a welfare check on 16 April 2020.

• Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: A life cut short by cruelty

The "over-reliance on the previous contact" by police was ill-informed, it added, concerns related to a direct allegation of physical abuse and there was "sufficient justification" for an immediate police response.

Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes were jailed for murder and manslaughter respectively

The second related to the failure to address evidence in the photo police received on 18 April, the report said.

"In the opinion of the review, had the police chosen to investigate what was a credible allegation of a serious assault against a child, it is possible that Arthur may have been removed from the pathway to harm that he was ultimately on."

It added the third critical opportunity was triggered when photos were shared with children's social care on 24 April.

At this point it was reasonable to suggest that "supervisor(s) should have re-evaluated their position, demonstrated professional curiosity and revisited their approach".

'Intervention might have prevented murder'

Possession of photos by statutory agencies "could and should have changed the course of this case".

The review said: "It is therefore not possible to rule out the likelihood that an appropriate intervention may have prevented Arthur’s murder."

Solihull Council chief executive Paul Johnson said he felt it was necessary to have an independent assessment of safeguarding practice in Solihull before Arthur's death.

He added the authority had been under scrutiny for its children’s services and following an inadequate rating by Ofsted in January 2023, it had been addressing its recommendations.

Mr Johnson said: "Positive progress is being made and this has been recognised by Ofsted through their regular monitoring visits.

"We will now use the findings from the Ineqe review to make sure we are making all of the necessary changes to continue to improve safeguarding arrangements for children in Solihull."

West Midlands Police said the loss of someone so young in such terrible circumstances was incomprehensible.

"We accept the finding of this report and we will work with partners to embrace the learning," it said.