The Prime Minister has been urged to back new safeguarding measures to protect children, after the murder of a North East toddler, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Daniel Holland.
Two-year-old Maya Chappell died after being violently shaken by her mother’s boyfriend, Michael Daymond, at her home in Shotton Colliery in 2022.
Her great aunt, Gemma Chappell, has been campaigning for Maya’s Law, which would require authorities to share information with a parent or guardian if another parent or caregiver’s known history poses a risk to their child.
Daymond was convicted of Maya’s murder and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 20 years, while her mother, Dana Carr, is serving a nine year sentence for allowing the death of a child.
A petition in support of Maya’s Law now has more than 110,000 signatures and will be debated in Parliament.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Thursday, Gemma said she wants Keir Starmer to “listen to us, hear our stories and take on board what we have to say”.
During a visit to Newcastle, the Prime Minister said: “Can I again say how tragic this case is and I pay tribute to all of those campaigning on this. I think it is really important that they have secured the debate.
“I am not quite sure when the debate is, but I will certainly be keeping a very careful eye on it. I think it is a really important case. I think it is also important that the secretary of state keeps meeting with the family to see what more we can do because it is a tragic case and I want to make sure we have done everything we possibly can to support the family.”
Gemma has already met with education secretary Bridget Phillipson and children’s minister Josh MacAlister, who said last year that now would not be the time to introduce the Child Risk Disclosure Scheme being called for.
The 48-year-old, of Consett, believes Maya’s Law would deliver “real change” for families and prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
She said: “The support from everyone has been fantastic. Over 110,00 signatures is just unreal – that is 110,000 voices for Maya and for the other children. It is amazing that we have that. It helps to get those in power to sit up and listen and to start having meetings with us to take on board what we are asking for.
“When it comes to child safeguarding, or any kind of safeguarding, we should be looking at if it can be strengthened. Things change over time and we need to move with the times.
“This is happening time and time again, 60 children are killed every year at the hands of a parent or carer – at what point will they do a national inquiry into that? That is what we are asking for.
“But for us to have this support, the Government listening, and the PM picking up on our debate is amazing. It is something we didn’t think would ever happen.”
Gemma added: “I would like him [the Prime Minister] to listen to people like our family and others who have gone through it and have this lived experience. Just listen to us, hear our stories and take on board what we have to say. We are not just coming with a problem, we have come with the answer.”
Daniel Holland
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
