From Maria Colwell to Victoria Climbié: Reflections on Public Inquiries into Child Abuse a Generation Apart

This paper compares and contrasts the Maria Colwell and Victoria Climbié Inquiry Reports. It argues that rather than concentrating on the similarities, it is more important and challenging to consider the differences as exemplars of the changing contexts of child protection in England over the past 30 years. The differences are analysed in terms of: the inquiries themselves; globalization and identity; expert knowledge; systematic care, responsibility and accountability; managerialization; trust and uncertainty; and the legislative contexts. The overall impression is one of increased complexity, where the responsibilities of agencies have both broadened and intensified at the same time.