Hi, thank you for viewing my petition. I have signed many a petition, but  this is the first one I've created. I started it because I felt so sad hearing about little 2 year old, Ethan, (photo), who was killed by his grandparents. I wanted to do something in his honour. To be his voice. To try and help future children. 

Please help me get a new Law introduced to try and prevent another child being murdered by the person(s) who is supposed to love and protect them.  

Ethan was on the child protection register which meant he should have been checked on every 10 days by social services or a health professional. His mother declined 3 consecutive visits. The current guidelines when this happens vary, but generally involve logging the reason for the cancellation and rearranging the visit.  

I would like to see new rules implemented that would mean no more than one scheduled visit can be missed, and a new visit must take place within a maximum of 48 hours. 

Everytime a child is murdered we read the same headlines and hear the same promises. 

"Lessons will be learnt!"

"There will be an inquiry!"

"It must never happen again!"

The deaths of innocent children weigh heavy on my heart. I asked myself what can I do? What can be done differently? I understand that the NHS, social services and other agencies are over worked and underfunded. To improve that would require a huge effort. But what if we do something smaller? 

I would like to suggest 'Ethan's Law'. Ethan's Law means that home visits for at-risk children, must be made- no excuses!

At-risk children are being murdered by their parents, step-parents, grand parents, and/or carers. This happens despite the child often being 'on the radar' with agencies, such as social services. Sometimes, in these cases, the child isn't seen because the person in charge of the child doesn't answer the door, cancels the appointment, or says the child is asleep or unwell.  

I am concerned there will be more cruel and unnecessary killings of innocent, vulnerable children unless new stricter rules are introduced. 

Following the recently publicised death of 2 year old Ethan Ives-Griffiths, who was required to be checked on every 10 days, but was brutally killed by his grandparents, who cancelled and declined several home visits, we need to take immediate action before another child's life is needlessly taken.  

Another case is that of Lola James,  who was murdered age 2 by her mum's partner. Lola was last visited 5 months before her death because her killer repeatedly declined visits from health professionals.

Also 5 year old Logan MWangi who wasn't seen because his mother said he had Covid. He was murdered by his mother and stepfather following 11 months of abuse which left him with 63 external injuries.

Police didn't visit 16 month old Star Hobson, because they believed she was on a family holiday. Star's mother repeatedly postponed home checks with excuses such as Star has a tummy bug. 

Let us not forget Victoria Climbié, who died with 128 injures. Health professionals went to the home doorstep 3 times, but with no answer they assumed the family had moved.  

Home visits need to be made,  excuses are not acceptable. If home visits are not made on the day.  They must be made within 48 hours of the original appointment. Failure to do so needs to result in a search warrant being issued, the parent or carer being fined and the health professional being disciplined. 

Let's not have another case which is

 ''The most distressing and disturbing case I've ever dealt with.'' (Judge in Arthur Labinjo-Hughes case)

"Worse case of child abuse she's seen." (Pathologist from case of Victoria Climbié)

"Worse case of neglect in 50 years." (Met police chief super intendant on Kaylea Titford case)

Thank you for taking the time to read this, Nancy 😊 

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