Place children in care earlier, says Laming

CHILDREN at risk of abuse must be taken from their parents and placed in care earlier to prevent a repeat of cases such as Baby P, Lord Laming said today.

The child protection specialist, who led an inquiry in the wake of the Haringey scandal, said too many social workers simply "hope for the best" and leave children to suffer.Lord Laming told MPs on the families select committee: "The worst thing that can happen to a child is to be left drifting along in a damaging situation.

"It might not be physical damage but it will certainly be emotional damage and it will impair the child's proper development."

About 60,000 children are in local authority care at any one time, with most placed in foster families or care homes.