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| Child killing rate 'drops by 40%' | Child killing rate 'drops by 40%' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The number of violent deaths among children in England and Wales has fallen by almost 40% since 1974, research has suggested. | The number of violent deaths among children in England and Wales has fallen by almost 40% since 1974, research has suggested. |
| The Bournemouth University study says the death rate is the fourth lowest in the Western world. | The Bournemouth University study says the death rate is the fourth lowest in the Western world. |
| Better monitoring by social workers and improved liaison between health visitors, paediatricians, GPs and police had led to the drop, it said. | Better monitoring by social workers and improved liaison between health visitors, paediatricians, GPs and police had led to the drop, it said. |
| The US and Germany had the highest violent death rates, the study found. | The US and Germany had the highest violent death rates, the study found. |
| The research was shown to the BBC ahead of publication in the British Journal of Social Work later this year. | The research was shown to the BBC ahead of publication in the British Journal of Social Work later this year. |
| Researchers examined the number of killings and other - unexplained - violent deaths of children aged 14 and under. | Researchers examined the number of killings and other - unexplained - violent deaths of children aged 14 and under. |
| In England and Wales, between 1974 and 2006, the annual number of such deaths fell by 38% from 136 to 84. | In England and Wales, between 1974 and 2006, the annual number of such deaths fell by 38% from 136 to 84. |
| When these things go wrong it is because very often because the usual good working-together has actually broken down Prof Colin Pritchard | When these things go wrong it is because very often because the usual good working-together has actually broken down Prof Colin Pritchard |
| As a proportion of the child population, violent death rates almost halved from 32 to 17 per million children. | As a proportion of the child population, violent death rates almost halved from 32 to 17 per million children. |
| Prof Colin Pritchard, from the university's school of health and social care, said the findings showed violent death rates among children "had never been lower" and were a "relative success story". | |
| He told BBC News: "Thirty years ago England and Wales were the third or fourth highest child killers in the Western world, but we're now fourth lowest. | He told BBC News: "Thirty years ago England and Wales were the third or fourth highest child killers in the Western world, but we're now fourth lowest. |
| "There's been a gradual decline in these terrible events," he said. | "There's been a gradual decline in these terrible events," he said. |
| The death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly, who suffered more than 50 injuries including a broken back before his death in Haringey in 2007, thrust the role of social workers into the spotlight. | The death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly, who suffered more than 50 injuries including a broken back before his death in Haringey in 2007, thrust the role of social workers into the spotlight. |
| He had been seen by various health and care professionals 60 times before he died. | He had been seen by various health and care professionals 60 times before he died. |
| However, Prof Pritchard said improvements in social care systems, along with a greater focus on child poverty, had helped improve the death rate. | However, Prof Pritchard said improvements in social care systems, along with a greater focus on child poverty, had helped improve the death rate. |
| "When these things go wrong it is because very often because the usual good working-together has actually broken down," he said. | "When these things go wrong it is because very often because the usual good working-together has actually broken down," he said. |
| Recruitment drive | Recruitment drive |
| Last year, the government launched a drive to recruit more social workers. | Last year, the government launched a drive to recruit more social workers. |
| Ministers feared criticism in the wake of the Baby P case - and another involving the torture of two boys by brothers aged 10 and 11 in Edlington, South Yorkshire - was turning people away from the profession. | Ministers feared criticism in the wake of the Baby P case - and another involving the torture of two boys by brothers aged 10 and 11 in Edlington, South Yorkshire - was turning people away from the profession. |
| The campaign was backed by stars such as actress Samantha Morton and musician Goldie. | The campaign was backed by stars such as actress Samantha Morton and musician Goldie. |
| The Bournemouth University study examined nine other major developed countries, with most showing similar reductions in child violent death rates. | The Bournemouth University study examined nine other major developed countries, with most showing similar reductions in child violent death rates. |
| Spain was the lowest, at four deaths per million children, with Italy on five. | Spain was the lowest, at four deaths per million children, with Italy on five. |
| The United States' figure was 47 deaths per million, a 2% rise since the mid 1970s, while Germany's was 21. | The United States' figure was 47 deaths per million, a 2% rise since the mid 1970s, while Germany's was 21. |
| Data from Scotland and Northern Ireland was not analysed for the study. | Data from Scotland and Northern Ireland was not analysed for the study. |