National Review Advocates Enhanced Support for Parents After Child Removal
Child protection experts are urging for trauma-informed support to be provided to parents whose children are taken into care, a measure aimed at reducing the risk of harm to any future babies. This recommendation stems from a national child safeguarding review initiated after the tragic death of baby Victoria Marten, which highlights the need to interrupt destructive cycles of harm by focusing more on parents alongside their vulnerable infants.
The Victoria Marten Case: A Tragic Backdrop
Victoria Marten died in January 2023 after her parents, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, a convicted rapist, took her to live in a tent under harsh winter conditions to evade social services. Her decomposed remains were discovered by police in March of that year. The couple, sentenced to 14 years in prison in September for killing their newborn, had fled authorities to prevent Victoria from being taken into care, as had happened with four older siblings, according to their Old Bailey trial.
The review, published by the national child safeguarding practice review panel, noted that Victoria's birth was part of a rapid series of pregnancies, births, and removals into care that had become a devastating repeating pattern. Given this family history, professionals dealing with the couple needed to anticipate Victoria's conception and birth earlier to engage more effectively with her parents.
Key Findings and Recommendations
Sir David Holmes, chair of the panel, stated that while Victoria's death was not predictable, her conception arguably was. He emphasized that better engagement with families at risk of child removal could help interrupt the cycle of repeated removals and subsequent births. The review found that no single agency or professional had specific responsibility for supporting the couple after their children were removed, leaving them isolated and unsupported, which increased risks to their children.
The couple's persistent reluctance to engage with authorities, moving five times during five pregnancies between 2017 and 2023, coincided with escalating safeguarding concerns. The review acknowledged complex challenges, including domestic abuse, Gordon's rape conviction, and the parents' unwillingness to engage, all contributing to Victoria's death.
Broader Implications and Statistics
Holmes pointed out that while removing children to protect them is valid, it does not address the root problems of troubled families and may increase risks for future children. Statistics from the Department for Education show that as of 31 March 2025, there were 5,360 under-ones subject to child protection plans in England, including 3,930 babies under one year old and 1,430 unborn infants.
The panel recommended national guidance on safeguarding for babies, covering concealed pregnancies and pre-birth planning for unborn infants when child protection risks exist. It also called for a government requirement for registered sex offenders to inform police of new partners and impending births, with failure to notify potentially leading to imprisonment.
Marten and Gordon were found guilty in July 2025 of manslaughter, child cruelty, concealing a birth, and perverting the course of justice after two trials. This case underscores the critical need for systemic changes in child protection practices to prevent similar tragedies.
