Boy, 3, starved by vegans was failed by officials ‘afraid of being branded racist'
A two-month trial at Coventry Crown Court heard the couple had 'invented' a belief system featuring aspects of Igbo culture that Tai, who grew up in both Nigeria and Peckham in south-east London, adapted to form a legal system he called 'slick law'.
The court heard that they lived off the generosity of others, occupying at one point a shipping container and a caravan in the Somerset area.
A review into his family's contact with authorities has found there was a lack of curiosity about how his parents' culture and lifestyle might have affected his wellbeing, warning that 'the safeguarding of children being impacted by harmful cultural practice is paramount'.
The review, published by Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) suggested that a culture of fear of being branded racist and discriminatory had contributed to the failure.
It warned that while navigating race, ethnicity, culture and beliefs 'can be challenging' for those working in child safeguarding, there is a need for them to be 'confident to ask questions about different cultures and belief systems without fear of being perceived as discriminatory'.
Kevin Ball, the report author, added: 'If any family engages in cultural practices which are harmful to children, this must not be overlooked, and the safeguarding of children being impacted by harmful cultural practice is paramount.'
The review, published on Wednesday, noted that Abiyah 'was only ever seen by a small number of professionals during his lifetime, and for a limited time only'.
According to records, he was seen by a health visitor in April 2016 shortly after his birth, and the following month for a check-up.
There was some contact with a local authority social worker in London in 2018 and four visits to a children's centre in Birmingham, but the review said: 'Records of these contacts and interactions are very limited, reinforcing that there was very little insight into [Abiyah's] existence, health or welfare.'
Police visited their home in Handsworth in February 2018 but the review stated that no details were recorded about Abiyah, with his presence 'almost invisible on a review of records'.
'No curiosity' from health visitors
Elsewhere, the review noted 'no exploration or curiosity' from the health visiting service, run by Birmingham Community Health Care NHS Foundation Trust, about Abiyah's mother's desire for a home birth with no medical intervention.
At a safeguarding meeting in March 2020, health visitor records noted that Abiyah had not been seen by them since his six-week assessment, with appointments at the one and two-year marks since his birth not attended.
He had also not received any routine immunisations. While a follow-up inquiry was planned it failed to materialise and the review stated that may have been caused by the Covid lockdown which began that year.
The various authorities coming into contact with the child's family showed a 'general lack of knowledge or assessment of the parents' belief systems', leading to an 'insufficient understanding about the impact on his care', the review said.
It also said his parents' behaviour 'often distracted or diverted professional attention' away from his safety and welfare.
The review stated: 'Parental resistance of advice, support or authority ultimately resulted in [Abiyah] becoming invisible and lost from professional view.'
The report included reflections that while social workers had been aware of the family's culture and parents' beliefs and lifestyle, they appeared not to have considered 'with detailed curiosity' the impact on Abiyah's safety and wellbeing, 'such as if indeed his overall needs were being met'.
Abiyah's mother opted to take part in the review, stating she believed she was 'doing the right thing at the time' for her son based on her cultural beliefs but that she now wished she had done more research about diet and healthcare.
She said it was 'hard to accept that my approach did not lead to the best outcomes for my child and that it took the court process to take me out of that bubble'.
Among its recommendations, the review said workforce guidance should be looked at to ensure it 'supports effective assessment and intervention which safeguards those children that become hidden from professional sight and/or when parents choose to live an alternative, or more off-grid lifestyle'.
Case raises 'very serious questions'
Annie Hudson, chairman of the child safeguarding practice review panel, said the case raised 'very serious questions' about local and national safeguarding systems.
She added: 'The local child safeguarding review published today highlights important learning, including about how Abiyah became invisible and lost from the view and oversight of professionals. It evidences strongly the paramount importance of understanding what life is like for children, and not being distracted or diverted away by parental behaviour when considering children's safety and welfare.
'It is important to respect parents' faith and beliefs. However, as this review highlights, professionals must always be mindful of whether their views about parents, including their faith, race and culture, is inhibiting their capacity to be questioning and act together in a timely way to safeguard and protect children.'
James Thomas and Sue Harrison, co-chairmen of the BSCP said: 'Protecting children out of professional sight is a real challenge, given the limits of statutory powers to ensure all children are regularly seen. Our partnership has made this one of our top strategic priorities to ensure that we do everything we possibly can to identify risk to those children who are out of sight.'
Abiyah's parents were arrested in Somerset on Dec 9, 2022, leading to the discovery of their son's body five days later.
Tai was sentenced to 24 years and six months and his wife was ordered to serve 19 years and six months in prison after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice, causing or allowing the death of a child, and child neglect.
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