Blunders over Toni-Ann killing

An inquiry into the fatal shooting of a seven-year-old girl in the flat of a convicted crack dealer is expected to reveal a catalogue of blunders by officials.

Toni-Ann Byfield was shot in the back in Kensal Green where she was staying with the drug dealer.

The inquiry report, expected out tomorrow, will detail a series of mistakes by social workers, children's guardians and immigration officials.

The investigation discovered that Toni-Ann was placed in the care of a girlfriend of the crack dealer - Bertram Byfield - without a proper risk assessment being carried out.

Police suspect Toni-Ann was shot along with Bertram last September to stop her identifying his killer.

He had been released from prison in 2001 after serving nine years for crack cocaine dealing and police believe he was shot over a drugs debt

of more than £20,000.

He had already survived a previous attempt on his life.

Toni-Ann was under the legal protection of Birmingham Social Services who will be criticised for placing her in the care of Byfield's girlfriend.

They will also be criticised for failing to inform Brent council that Toni-Ann was an "at risk" child who would be living in their area.

The review of the case has been carried out by David Lambert, a former assistant chief inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate and is being sent to Health Secretary Dr John Reid.

The investigation discovered for the first time that Byfield was not Toni-Ann's biological father.

Until now everyone - including Byfield - believed he was but a post mortem examination revealed this was not the case.

The inquiry also discovered that the woman in Birmingham under whose care Toni-Ann was placed was not an aunt, as had been previously believed, but one of several girlfriends Byfield had.

Mr Lambert's investigation also makes discoveries about Toni-Ann's life.

Her mother is Christine Richards, now 32, and she was born in Jamaica. At six

months old she was looked after by a girlfriend of Byfield's who thought she was his child.

Toni-Ann was sent to live with a friend of her mother's in Britain in 2000 and in November 2003 Birmingham Social Services placed her with foster parents.

The following year her foster parents went on holiday abroad but Toni-Ann could not go because of immigration problems.

The inquiry will criticise the immigration service for failing to deal with her case and for delays.

Birmingham City Council told The Independent: "The review establishes there are lessons to be learned by agencies involved in Toni-Ann's care and that action needs to be taken to better safeguard children."

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