An affluent woman, whose infant perished in the cold while she was evading authorities, has criticized social workers for the tragic outcome in an unusual outburst.
During a recent meeting with a safeguarding panel, Constance Marten, aged 38, alleged that social workers had used state powers coercively to remove her four children and compel her to flee with her fifth child, Victoria.
Tragically, Victoria passed away in January 2023 after Marten and her partner, Mark Gordon, aged 51 and a convicted rapist, hid her in a tent in the South Downs to avoid social services when she was just a few days old. The infant’s remains were discovered in a disused allotment shed in Brighton two months later.
Both parents of baby Victoria were sentenced to 14 years in prison in September for gross negligence manslaughter, child cruelty, perverting justice, and concealing the child’s birth.
During sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Mark Lucraft admonished the pair, stating, “Neither of you demonstrated much, if any, concern for the welfare of your child; your focus was on yourselves.”
Following Victoria’s tragic demise, a nationwide review of child safeguarding protocols was initiated. Marten informed the panel that social services had presented her with “ultimatums rather than genuine help” leading up to her and Gordon’s disappearance.
She expressed her belief that individuals can be supported and transformed, potentially resulting in the return and proper care of children.
In its recent findings, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel urged swift action to shield vulnerable unborn babies and infants from similar perils within their homes.
The report, released today, calls on the government to promptly enhance national directives, enhance inter-agency information sharing, and ensure that professionals possess the necessary time, skills, and support to safeguard unborn babies and infants from harm.
One of the recommendations involves tightening registration obligations outlined in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, potentially subjecting registered sex offenders to imprisonment if they fail to notify authorities of new relationships or pregnancies.
The Home Office is reportedly reviewing the recommendations from the report.
Panel chair Sir David Holmes remarked, “Few tragedies rival the loss of a baby, and baby Victoria’s case is particularly heart-wrenching as her parents were responsible for it.”
He continued, “Baby Victoria was part of a family marked by concealed pregnancies, repeated child removals, domestic violence, service disengagement, serious criminal acts, and frequent relocations. These are recurring risk factors in severe safeguarding incidents, extensively examined in our review.”
Sir Holmes emphasized the need to support parents of vulnerable babies to prevent harm cycles from recurring, highlighting the necessity for safeguarding professionals to comprehend why families disengage and address underlying issues such as domestic abuse, substance abuse, mental health challenges, or trauma from prior child removals.
The panel’s recommendations focus on enhancing national guidelines for safeguarding vulnerable unborn babies and infants, along with better support for parents whose children are removed, with the aim of reducing future harm.
While complete prevention of extreme parental harm may be unattainable, the report suggests that risks within families can be reduced, providing a path forward for individuals. Baby Victoria’s legacy, as mentioned, should inspire these efforts.