Six women arrested after suspicious death of one-year-old boy at nursery

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2023

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Six women have been arrested in connection with the suspicious death of a one-year-old boy at a nursery.

West Midlands Police said a criminal investigation was launched after the toddler died at Fairytales Day Nursery, in Bourne Street, Dudley, on 9 December last year.

The nursery was closed by Ofsted along with other linked premises on 14 December after the watchdog said “children may be at risk of harm” and suspended its registration.

The force said three women aged 20, 23 and 50 were arrested on 16 December on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and later bailed.

Three more women aged 51, 53 and 37 were detained on Wednesday – two on suspicion of corporate manslaughter and one on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

In a statement, police said: “We are treating the death of a one-year-old boy on December 9, at a Dudley nursery as suspicious and an investigation is under way.”

The force added: “The boy’s family is being supported by specially trained officers.

“A post-mortem has taken place but further tests will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death.”

Two ambulances, trauma doctor and air ambulance sent to scene

West Midlands Ambulance Service said medics were called to premises in Bourne Street at 3.19pm and two ambulances, a trauma doctor and an air ambulance were sent to the scene.

“On arrival crews found a child in a critical condition,” the ambulance service said. “Medics commenced advanced life support which continued en route to Russells Hall Hospital (Dudley) by ambulance.”

However, the youngster died despite the efforts of medical personnel.

‘We believe children may be at risk of harm’

An Ofsted report published in February last year found provision at the multi-award-winning nursery to be good overall.

However, inspectors returned on 15 December last year after Fairytales’ management told the watchdog of “a serious incident involving a child in their care” at the Bourne Street site on 9 December.

The provider, which runs two nursery sites, is legally obliged to tell Ofsted if there has been a “serious accident, illness or injury to, or death of, any child while in their care”.

In a report published on 22 December, the watchdog said it had suspended the nursery’s registration on 14 December having “received concerns that the provider was not meeting some of the safeguarding and welfare requirements”.

“We suspended the provider’s registration because we believe children may be at risk of harm,” the report said.

During a visit on 15 December, inspectors found the nursery had failed to tell authorities about a change of manager, “which is an offence”, and uncovered welfare shortcomings, particularly in the care of babies in the sleeping room.

Ofsted report highlights ‘risks in the baby room’

Setting out what actions which, by law, needed to be taken at the site by 13 January, Ofsted directed the nursery to “ensure at least half the staff who care for babies have received training that specifically addresses the care of babies”.

It must also “demonstrate how you will ensure sleeping babies are frequently checked to ensure that they are safe”, as well as “review and implement sleeping arrangements to ensure children are placed down to sleep safely in line with latest government safety guidance”.

Ofsted said all staff must have the correct “qualifications, training, skills, knowledge, and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities with regards to sleeping children” and the nursery must “take all reasonable steps to ensure children in your care are not exposed to risks, paying particular attention to risks in the baby room”.

It said the provider must also “ensure risk assessment is effective and identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis… and how the risk will be removed or minimised”.

UK

Craig and Lindsay Foreman: British couple detained in Iran are named – as family ‘significantly concerned’

Published

8 hours ago

February 16, 2025

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Craig and Lindsay Foreman: British couple detained in Iran are named - as family 'significantly concerned'

A British couple who have been detained in Iran have been named by their family as Craig and Lindsay Foreman.

The family said they are “significantly concerned” by the “distressing situation”.

According to Ms Foreman’s social media, the couple were on a motorbiking trip across the globe to Australia as part of a positive psychology mission.

On 30 December, she posted about how they were about to face “one of the most challenging” parts of their trip, Iran and Pakistan.

The post reads: “Despite the advice of friends, family, and the FCDO (which strongly advises against travel to Iran for British nationals), we’ve chosen to keep moving forward.

“Why? Because we believe that, no matter where you are in the world, most people are good, kind humans striving for a meaningful life.

“Yes, we’re aware of the risks. But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear.”

In a statement, the couple’s family expressed their concern and said they were engaging with the UK government.

“We would like to take this opportunity to address the distressing situation concerning Craig and Lindsay Foreman who are currently being detained in Kerman, Iran,” they said.

“This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and wellbeing during this trying time.

“We are actively engaging with the British government and relevant authorities, working diligently to navigate the complexities of this matter. The family are united in our determination to secure their safe return.

“We truly appreciate the outpouring of support from friends, family, and the community, which has provided us with strength and encouragement as we face this ordeal.”

They added: “Thank you for your understanding, compassion, and continued support.”

A Foreign Office spokesperson earlier said: “We are providing consular assistance to two British nationals detained in Iran and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Iranian state media said on Wednesday that a man and woman were in custody in Iran’s southeastern city of Kerman on security-related charges.

The Foreign Office warns that people are at risk of “arrest, detention and a death sentence” if they travel to Iran.

Iran has previously arrested and held British citizens for extended periods of time.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, who are dual British-Iranian citizens, were released in March 2022 after years held captive in Iran.

UK

Woman named in ‘no body’ murder investigation in Cambridgeshire

Published

8 hours ago

February 16, 2025

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Woman named in 'no body' murder investigation in Cambridgeshire

Police have named a missing woman at the centre of a “no-body” murder investigation as 54-year-old Julie Buckley.

Ms Buckley, from the Fenlands village of Christchurch, Cambridgeshire, hasn’t been seen since late January.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Police have been continuing to search for Ms Buckley, as they try to find out why she is missing.

“We are trying to piece together Julie’s movements before she disappeared so I would appeal for anyone who has seen her in the past few weeks to get in touch,” said Detective Inspector Richard Stott from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

“We know she has links to places in the surrounding area including March, Manea, and Chatteris so I would urge people who live in those areas to consider if they have information that could be of use to our inquiry.

“We are in touch with family of Julie and specially trained officers are keeping them up to date on the police inquiry at this very difficult time.

“Although we have always wanted to find Julie alive, the circumstances suggest she is likely to have come to serious harm, so we continue to treat her disappearance as murder.”

Anyone with information can contact the police online or call 101 and quote Operation Dragonfish.

UK

Idris Elba on the power of football – and how it can help tackle knife crime

Published

8 hours ago

February 16, 2025

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Idris Elba on the power of football - and how it can help tackle knife crime

Idris Elba hopes providing more access to football in communities will deter youngsters from knife crime and he urged other industries to follow the Premier League’s lead.

The actor dropped in on a session run by the West Ham Foundation – part of the league’s Kicks programme supporting youngsters at risk of anti-social behaviour and youth violence by providing free weekly football.

While it could offer pathways in the sport – including coaching the next generation – Elba sees how it provides the toolset for personal development in life more broadly.

“Football has an amazing aggregated power,” Elba told Sky News. “I think that is a really good sort of example for other industries to think about mentorship programmes.

“Apprenticeship programmes that can just give young people (opportunities) because not every kid wants to play football.

“But at least we’re seeing the Premier League do something. The big tech companies, motor industry companies should say, ‘Hey, what can we do with the young people? What are their interests?'”

The Premier League has invested more than £90m in the Kicks programme across two decades with a particular focus on reducing violent behaviour.

The need for such a scheme was reinforced by the fatal stabbings of 10 teenagers in London last year being followed by a 14-year-old’s killing in the first week of 2025.

It is a year since Elba launched his own campaign, Don’t Stop Your Future, to call for greater urgency in addressing the knife crime crisis.

“Where there are young people aggregating around football, around teams, should we be messaging that knife crime is no good? Absolutely. Yes,” Elba said. “We should be messaging that wherever you can.

“Just listen to a young person once. If you’ve never asked them what their feelings are about knife crime, about what they want to do with their lives, do it. That’s one thing… The answer is up to you, but ultimately, you’re beginning the conversation.”

It was a conversation Elba had earlier this week in Dagenham with young players and coaches alongside a roundtable with community leaders impacted by knife crime.

“I absolutely feel that the more we talk, we can do about this, the better,” Elba said.

“Are there mechanisms where football can play a part in a larger scale? Absolutely. Let’s hope that we can all put our thinking caps on.”

That is working – as the Premier League does – with police to confront the knife crime epidemic.

“It feels probably to many that not enough is being done,” Met Police Commander Stephen Clayman, the national policing lead for knife crime, told Sky News pitchside at the Kicks programme.

“But actually, you see things like this. You only need to change the direction of a number of people. You’ve already made a huge difference.

“What you need is more of this, more investment in youth services, in these types of things, and then you start making the difference.”

But can football really make communities safer by providing access to football? Or is it for authorities to search for more impactful interventions – by increasing the number of officers on the beat?

“Having more cops can make a difference in some areas for enforcement, but it’s not just about enforcement,” Commander Clayman said.

“You’re only going to really tackle this if you get to the root cause of why someone feels they have to pick up a knife in the first place.

“That’s not going to be the police solving that. That’s going to be people with some of the sort of coaches and mentors here that will do that and all the other services around. That’s what will make the real difference over time. It’s never going to be a quick fix.”

But football is trying to help in any way it can to prevent the tragedies that trouble West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.

“Things like this really help people get off the streets and really do something with their life and make a real powerful change – I think it’s such a really important thing,” he said in an interview.

“It teaches them good habits and it teaches them a lot of different things as well. They spoke about the mental side of football and the technical side also.

“I think it also teaches about social skills. You have to play as a team, people making friendships here as well. So, I think it’s a really powerful positive thing.”