The story of Daniel Pelka, the little 4 year old boy who was starved and beaten to death, has shocked and disgusted us all. The nature of the crimes are horrific enough but the fact that they were carried out by his own mother and stepfather almost defies belief.

That the continued torture of such a tiny and vulnerable child took place under the noses of his school, the local social services department  and the medical staff who treated him for his injuries is both astounding and shameful. There’s something terribly wrong with a society that cannot protect its weakest  and most vulnerable members and, sadly, this is not the first such tragedy . Other children have been abused and murdered in similar circumstances.

As the inevitable enquiries and soul-searching continue no stone should be left unturned to ensure that this cannot happen again. As a nation we British are quick to be angered by cruelty to foxes, badgers and other animals. Surely it’s not too much to ask that we respond in a similar fashion when our children are the victims of such cruelty?