A SOUTHAMPTON MP has called for an urgent inspection into the handling by police and the Crown Prosecution Service of the deaths of four children in the city.

John Denham, MP for Southampton Itchen, wants a review to establish whether all investigations into the deaths of Blake Fowler, Jayden and Bradley Adams and Nico Maynard, were “as complete as possible”.

As reported by the Daily Echo, in all four cases parents and those caring for them were |||initially arrested in connection with the deaths but no charges were ever made due to a lack of evidence.

Mr Denham, former Home Office minister in charge of police, believes that an investigation is needed to ensure that the right judgements were made about securing any possible convictions.

He also added that Southampton City Council must complete and publish the Serious Case Reviews into the deaths of seven-year-old Blake, Jayden, two and his four-year-old brother Bradley, “as soon as possible” so that lessons could be learnt.

As reported yesterday, the woman in charge of children’s services in the city, Councillor Sarah Bogle, had nothing to say when questioned how she was going to restore the public’s shaken faith in Southampton’s care system following the inquests into the deaths this week.

The city’s social services were in contact with both the families of Blake Fowler and the Adams brothers before their premature deaths The authority has consistently said no to further comment until the conclusion of ongoing Serious Case Reviews – which have only recently got under way in both the cases of Blake Fowler and brothers Jayden and Bradley, all who died in 2011.

Mr Denham said: “These are tragic deaths for which the parents and carers involved must take responsibility.

“In two families it appears that one or more parents and others deliberately set out to deceive the authorities about their contact with children.

“Going forward, everything must be done to make sure that any necessary lessons have been learnt by public agencies.

“I see no value in trying to point the finger at individuals – it is much more important to be able to look at what judgements were made, why and what should be done differently in future.

“There have been major changes in the leadership and staffing of Southampton Children’s Services since these events.”

He added: “It will be helpful, when OfSted next inspects the authority, to establish whether these changes have addressed any weaknesses that existed previously.

“It would be helpful if Hampshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service could invite an inspection of their handling of these cases to establish whether all investigations were as complete as possible and the right judgements made about the possibility of securing convictions.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service suggested that if Mr Denham had any concerns that he should write to the chief Crown Prosecutor of Wessex, Kate Brown, who “will be happy to give a full explanation”.

No one was available to comment from Hampshire Constabulary.