A PETITION calling for all social workers to wear body cameras on home visits has been launched by Arthur’s Angels.
The charitable trust, which was set up in memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, is asking the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to make the cameras mandatory so visits can be looked at again from a different angle to spot things not seen by a social worker on a visit.
The six-year-old boy was visited by a member of Solihull’s social services in Shirley before his death in June 2020.
Writing on change.org organisers of Arthur’s Angels said: “After the tragic event of Arthur losing his life along with many other children being failed by social services, we have set up a charitable trust in Arthur’s name to help make a change and try to stop this happening again.
“Most visits are announced so many things can be covered up and in the visit small details can be missed or over looked, with the help of body cams the visit can be looked at again from a different angle to spot things not seen by a social worker on a visit.”
The petition adds the introduction of body cameras would also allow a group to review the home visit where one person could spot something that could save a child’s life.
Bernie Dixon, Arthur’s cousin who helped set up Arthur’s Angels said: “We believe as a team that the use of body cams would be beneficial as we could have learned from any footage and risk assess the possibility of change and learning from it.
“This was supported by a social worker currently working in the system and was suggested to us by members of a fellow facebook group stand up for children, when the suggestion was made I thought it would a fabulous start to help improve services.
“The police use it and it has proved to be successful.
“We could implement this so quickly and it would really make a difference.”
So far the petition, which was launched ahead of the report which slammed Solihull’s safeguarding services, has got more than 500 signatures.
Emma Tustin was jailed for 29 years for the murder to the six-year-old boy at her home in Cranmore Road.
Arthur’s dad, Thomas Hughes, was also jailed for 21 after being found guilty on manslaughter at Coventry Crown Court.
They subjected Arthur to a ‘campaign’ of abuse, lying about his welfare to the school and misleading social services.
The pair were also convicted of child cruelty and made Arthur stand in isolation for 14 hours they also deprived him of food and water and poisoned him with salt.
For more or to sign the petition click here.
