Confusion
continues over review of infanticide cases
The
Solicitor General Harriet Harman today hinted in a statement on
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4's Woman's Hour that a review of infanticide cases, announced
last week, will ensure injustices within civil courts are considered
as well as those in the criminal courts.
This
is in contrast to a statement in the same programme from the Minister
for Children Margaret Hodge who was clear that the review would
be limited to only criminal cases.
Both
Harriet Harman and Margaret Hodge were invited to appear on the
programme to discuss the confusion over the announcement of the
review into cases of infanticide but declined.
In
a written statement to Woman's Hour Harriet Harman MP said:
"We
will ensure not only that injustices in the criminal justice system,
but that any potential injustices in care proceedings are identified
and acted on.
"As
we deal straight away with those in prison and those involved in
criminal processes, we must bear in mind the absolute and utmost
gravity of the situation facing those whose injustice is at the
hands not of the criminal justice system, but of the family justice
system."
She
went on to add: "There was no announcement of a review of the
civil cases. What we are doing is considering how issues involved
in the criminal cases could affect the civil cases."
In
a written statement to Woman's Hour Margaret Hodge MP said:
"It
has been widely reported in the media that the Attorney General's
review of criminal cases of murder, manslaughter or infanticide
of an infant under two by its parent, potentially involving Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome, will be extended to include civil cases.
"This
is a misunderstanding. The Attorney General's review is limited
to criminal cases. DfES Ministers are considering the implications
of the judgement for civil cases."
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