A SENIOR detective refused to authorise the forensic testing of any seized samples or items despite a pathologist's concerns that Poppi Worthington may have been sexually assaulted, according to a court judgment.


EVIDENCE: Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour leaves Liverpool Civil and Family Courts after a hearing into the death of 13-month-old Poppi Worthington in December 2012. Peter Byrne/PA Wire Police liaisons with consultant pathologist Alison Armour were uncovered in the March 2014 fact-finding family court judgment - finally published in full on today - made as part of care proceedings with other children in Poppi's family.

On December 18 2012, the day after the post-mortem examination, Dr Armour phoned a detective inspector, referred to as DI S, to express concerns that internal injuries could have been caused by penetration by a penis or object.

She also described identified leg fractures as being very unusual for a child of her age.

High Court family judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson said that on the same date, another officer, referred to as DCI F - understood to be retired detective superintendent Mike Forrester - refused to authorise the forensic testing of any samples or items seized, except for the girl's blood.

On Christmas Eve, Dr Armour again telephoned DI S to inform her that she did not think the death was due to natural causes but rather to "an unlawful act" and that the internal injuries were due to insertion or penetration.

Dr Armour was also said to have told another police officer, referred to as DS C, days before the post-mortem that she suspected it was a case of child abuse.

Mr Justice Jackson said police thought Dr Armour "may have jumped to conclusions" and decided not to investigate further until the receipt of her full report.

The judge added that "extraordinarily" Dr Armour's full post-mortem report was not completed until June 25 2013, in which the pathologist explained to the court that she wanted to have all the histology results before committing herself in a case of such seriousness.

The judge rejected any suggestion that Dr Armour "jumped to conclusions" before, during or after the post-mortem.

He said the delay meant that "no real" police investigation took place until August 2013 when officers eventually began forensic tests and Poppi's parents were arrested later that month.

Twelve basic omissions identified during the initial investigation were: 

* Items at the hospital Poppi was taken to were not preserved for forensic analysis

* Items at the family home were not preserved for forensic analysis

* The scene at the family home was not secured, with Poppi's last nappy being lost despite the presence of police officers

* DI S and DCI F not visiting the home. According to national protocol, a senior officer should immediately attend the home to take charge of the investigation and ensure that evidence is intelligently preserved

* No reconstruction with the parents at home so that their accounts could be understood and investigations focused

* No forensic medical examination at the time of death. Swabs were not taken until post-mortem despite delays meaning forensic analysis can be prejudiced

* No engagement of a paediatrician with specialist knowledge of investigating sexual abuse for there to be a physical examination of the child, a viewing of the home and a report for the pathologist

* Dr Armour's initial views were not clearly passed on to the local authority for safeguarding purposes

* The parents were not formally interviewed until August 2013

* Neither parent's mobile telephone or Facebook accounts were analysed

* Samples were not sent for analysis until after receipt of Dr Armour's full report

* No statements taken from any witnesses (paramedics, nurses, doctors, family members) until September 2013 Mr Forrester was also said to have played "a prominent part" in a February 2014 meeting of a sub-group of the Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children's Board which concluded the criteria for a serious case review (SCR) was not met.

Mr Justice Jackson recommended the conclusion should be independently reviewed as it appeared to conflict with regulations which state an SCR must be held where neglect or abuse of a child is known or suspected, and the child has died.


SLAMMED: Retired Detective Superintendant Mike Forrester In November, Mr Forrester said his officers did the best they could with the information and resources available. He added some of the criticism was unfair. 

He told BBC North West Tonight: ''I'm not saying we get it right all the time but none of us on this case have done anything intentionally wrong, we haven't done anything dishonest."

Mr Forrester, who reportedly said he only took over the inquiry two weeks after Poppi's death, also strongly criticised the delay to the completion of the post-mortem report.

The force referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in summer 2014 and said three officers were subject to the investigation, with the suspension of one officer, the now retired Mr Forrester, while the two others had moved into different roles.

The IPCC report may not be published until after a second inquest is held into Poppi's death.