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Police 'will learn' from deaths Police 'will learn' from deaths
(11 minutes later)
The man in charge of Leicestershire police when a mother killed herself and her daughter after being hounded by youths said lessons will be learned.The man in charge of Leicestershire police when a mother killed herself and her daughter after being hounded by youths said lessons will be learned.
Fiona Pilkington, 38, died in a burning car with daughter Francecca Hardwick after years of abuse in Barwell.Fiona Pilkington, 38, died in a burning car with daughter Francecca Hardwick after years of abuse in Barwell.
Former chief constable Matt Baggott spoke out after Home Secretary Alan Johnson said there were "no excuses" for failings that led to the deaths.Former chief constable Matt Baggott spoke out after Home Secretary Alan Johnson said there were "no excuses" for failings that led to the deaths.
An inquest jury found the family's cries for help had been ignored.An inquest jury found the family's cries for help had been ignored.
Mr Baggott, who took over as the new chief constable in Northern Ireland last week, said officers were "saddened" they could not protect the pair.Mr Baggott, who took over as the new chief constable in Northern Ireland last week, said officers were "saddened" they could not protect the pair.
Police officers are there to protect people and everybody will be feeling hugely saddened that we were unable to do so Matt Baggott, Leicestershire's former police chief Spotlight on disability hate crimePolice officers are there to protect people and everybody will be feeling hugely saddened that we were unable to do so Matt Baggott, Leicestershire's former police chief Spotlight on disability hate crime
But he stopped short of apologising for the failures of his former force despite being urged to do so by Northern Ireland Policing Board member Basil McCrea.But he stopped short of apologising for the failures of his former force despite being urged to do so by Northern Ireland Policing Board member Basil McCrea.
Leicestershire's temporary chief constable Chris Eyre had earlier said he was "extremely sorry" that police failed to help the family.Leicestershire's temporary chief constable Chris Eyre had earlier said he was "extremely sorry" that police failed to help the family.
Mr Baggott said: "It is wrong to say nobody cares. Police officers are there to protect people and everybody will be feeling hugely saddened that we were unable to do so.Mr Baggott said: "It is wrong to say nobody cares. Police officers are there to protect people and everybody will be feeling hugely saddened that we were unable to do so.
"It raises some big questions about how you can manage individual family needs among a backdrop of a significant call for police resources. So there are lessons to be learned.""It raises some big questions about how you can manage individual family needs among a backdrop of a significant call for police resources. So there are lessons to be learned."
'Stress and anxiety''Stress and anxiety'
Mr Johnson said the county's police and councils were wrong to regard such anti-social behaviour as "low-level crime".Mr Johnson said the county's police and councils were wrong to regard such anti-social behaviour as "low-level crime".
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to investigate the handling of the case.The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to investigate the handling of the case.
An inquest at Loughborough Town Hall heard Ms Pilkington, her 18-year-old daughter and her son, Anthony, 19, who has severe dyslexia, suffered more than 10 years of harassment and threats from a gang of teenagers living on their street.An inquest at Loughborough Town Hall heard Ms Pilkington, her 18-year-old daughter and her son, Anthony, 19, who has severe dyslexia, suffered more than 10 years of harassment and threats from a gang of teenagers living on their street.
Mother denies sons harassed familyMother denies sons harassed family
The mother of two youths identified by the council as being involved in earlier abuse, said they were targeted by the bullies themselves when she banned them from associating with the gang.The mother of two youths identified by the council as being involved in earlier abuse, said they were targeted by the bullies themselves when she banned them from associating with the gang.
Leslie Warner said: "They started doing things to us because my children weren't allowed to play with them."Leslie Warner said: "They started doing things to us because my children weren't allowed to play with them."
The council has admitted the Simmons family, who live nearby and are thought to be among those involved, still cause trouble in the area. When asked by the BBC if his children bore any responsibility for the deaths, the father said: "That's for the authorities to decide."The council has admitted the Simmons family, who live nearby and are thought to be among those involved, still cause trouble in the area. When asked by the BBC if his children bore any responsibility for the deaths, the father said: "That's for the authorities to decide."
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Johnson said: "This should never have happened and there are no excuses for this and there can be no excuses for this.Speaking to BBC News, Mr Johnson said: "This should never have happened and there are no excuses for this and there can be no excuses for this.
"This is an example of a complacency that we are determined to eradicate wherever it is.""This is an example of a complacency that we are determined to eradicate wherever it is."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Speaking about the anti-social behaviour the family experienced, he added: "In Fiona Pilkington's case there was insufficient attention to this, it was classified as low level when it is high level if you are experiencing it, that is for sure."Speaking about the anti-social behaviour the family experienced, he added: "In Fiona Pilkington's case there was insufficient attention to this, it was classified as low level when it is high level if you are experiencing it, that is for sure."
While accepting that the police had made improvements in the past two years, Mr Johnson said the fact remained the existing powers had not been used properly.While accepting that the police had made improvements in the past two years, Mr Johnson said the fact remained the existing powers had not been used properly.
"It is the police's job, along with the local authority and social services and housing and all the rest of it, to ensure that people are not driven to the kind of despair Fiona Pilkington was driven to."It is the police's job, along with the local authority and social services and housing and all the rest of it, to ensure that people are not driven to the kind of despair Fiona Pilkington was driven to.
"She did that terrible thing because she felt at her wits' end and she had to get a message to someone and if we go through a load of excuses about this we will not tackle the root problem.""She did that terrible thing because she felt at her wits' end and she had to get a message to someone and if we go through a load of excuses about this we will not tackle the root problem."
Mr Johnson added: "I take my responsibilities seriously here.Mr Johnson added: "I take my responsibilities seriously here.
"I'm concerned that we've coasted a bit on anti-social behaviour. We need to ensure now that right across the country there are consistent standards.""I'm concerned that we've coasted a bit on anti-social behaviour. We need to ensure now that right across the country there are consistent standards."
The bodies were found in the burning car in October 2007The bodies were found in the burning car in October 2007
Conservative leader David Cameron said it was "an absolutely horrific case" which raised questions for both the police and the council.Conservative leader David Cameron said it was "an absolutely horrific case" which raised questions for both the police and the council.
"But also we have had a decade of a Labour Government telling us about anti-social behaviour legislation and instructions and orders to the police and it just isn't working," he said."But also we have had a decade of a Labour Government telling us about anti-social behaviour legislation and instructions and orders to the police and it just isn't working," he said.
"We've got to get rid of the police paperwork, we've got to get them back on the streets, we've got to make them feel empowered to intervene and clear these people off the streets and make them accountable locally so there are consequences if they don't deliver.""We've got to get rid of the police paperwork, we've got to get them back on the streets, we've got to make them feel empowered to intervene and clear these people off the streets and make them accountable locally so there are consequences if they don't deliver."
Ms Pilkington is believed to have poured the contents of a 10-litre can of petrol over clothes in the back seat of the car, and set them alight.Ms Pilkington is believed to have poured the contents of a 10-litre can of petrol over clothes in the back seat of the car, and set them alight.
The jury found Ms Pilkington killed herself and her daughter "due to the stress and anxiety regarding her daughter's future, and ongoing anti-social behaviour".The jury found Ms Pilkington killed herself and her daughter "due to the stress and anxiety regarding her daughter's future, and ongoing anti-social behaviour".
The jury foreman said the police's response had had an impact on Ms Pilkington's decision to unlawfully kill her daughter and commit suicide.The jury foreman said the police's response had had an impact on Ms Pilkington's decision to unlawfully kill her daughter and commit suicide.
David Cameron: "We've got to get rid of the police paperwork"David Cameron: "We've got to get rid of the police paperwork"
Relatives described how Ms Pilkington had complained for years about youths "taunting and abusing" her at her home, but six months before her death had told them "I give up".Relatives described how Ms Pilkington had complained for years about youths "taunting and abusing" her at her home, but six months before her death had told them "I give up".
Mark Golding, chief executive of Mencap, said "hate crime" against people with learning disabilities was common and should be taken as seriously as racial abuse.Mark Golding, chief executive of Mencap, said "hate crime" against people with learning disabilities was common and should be taken as seriously as racial abuse.
He added: "I think this case will be the wake-up call that gives it that kind of profile.He added: "I think this case will be the wake-up call that gives it that kind of profile.
"Until now it's been seen as low-level, it's being treated as misbehaviour and people's lives are being ruined as a result.""Until now it's been seen as low-level, it's being treated as misbehaviour and people's lives are being ruined as a result."
Mr Golding said more education about disabilities was needed in schools, and authorities needed to work together to support people with learning difficulties and stop a similar tragedy happening again.Mr Golding said more education about disabilities was needed in schools, and authorities needed to work together to support people with learning difficulties and stop a similar tragedy happening again.
He added: "The only upside of this tragedy is that it brings this issue into the open."He added: "The only upside of this tragedy is that it brings this issue into the open."


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