Families of girls injured in the Southport attack have cautioned the government against making unfulfilled promises and are urging a future Prime Minister to implement urgent changes to prevent similar atrocities. Their calls come after the government published its response to the first phase of a public inquiry into the 2024 attack.
In April, Sir Adrian Fulford, chairman of the inquiry, released his initial report describing the events as a "clearly signposted disaster waiting to happen." The 760-page document, compiled after 35 days of testimony from survivors, witnesses, and experts, was highly critical of multiple state agencies, including police, social services, mental health teams, and youth justice services. Sir Adrian stated these bodies "fundamentally failed" to assume responsibility for the case of Axel Rudakubana, the 17-year-old perpetrator.
Rudakubana was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years for the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. The girls were fatally stabbed at a dance club in Southport on July 29, 2024. Sir Adrian asserted that these deaths "could and should have been prevented" had public bodies taken appropriate measures.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that the government accepts Sir Adrian's recommendations in full and is committed to "whatever is needed to protect the public." However, lawyer Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, speaking on behalf of the parents of the 22 girls who survived the attack, expressed skepticism, stating they have "yet to see hard evidence of any real change." She emphasized the need for "firm timelines and detailed plans" for improvements and called on Andy Burnham to prioritize their implementation upon entering office.
"Much of today’s report outlines consultations and desires to amend policies or guidance across multiple agencies, but until the work is done these are just promises," Ryan-Donnelly said. "It’s almost two years since the Southport attack devastated this community – but only days ago, another depraved teenager was sentenced for possessing numerous weapons and explosives to carry out a mass killing." She added that affected families need to see how changes will be implemented and measured, and they want to be involved in informing these changes.
Chris Walker, representing the parents of the murdered girls, acknowledged the Home Secretary's pledge to introduce legislation outlawing the planning of non-terrorist mass casualty attacks. However, he raised concerns about accountability for both individual mistakes and organizational failings. "Public statements of regret are hollow if there is no individual accountability," Walker stated. "Those individuals who failed the most, must lose their jobs. Otherwise, the public will have no confidence that an atrocity like this will be prevented from occurring again."
Sir Adrian's report also criticized Rudakubana's parents for not reporting his suspicious behavior, suggesting that had they done so, he would not have been free on the day of the attack. The parents of the deceased girls are reportedly keen to engage with the government on a "parental responsibility law" and a review of "duty to warn" legislation, advocating for its extension beyond terrorism to cover threats of extreme violence.
Nicola Brook, representing three adult survivors, highlighted the urgency of addressing "black hole in mental health funding," warning that restrictions alone would be insufficient. She also criticized her clients for learning about the government's response through media reports, stating, "This is not the approach of a Government committed to putting the victims first and centring their lived experience in any future policy change."
Sir Adrian's report detailed how Rudakubana was known to state agencies from October 2019, when he was 13. He made calls to Childline admitting to carrying a kitchen knife to school due to bullying, leading to his expulsion. He later attacked another pupil with a hockey stick. Despite referrals to the Prevent de-radicalization program and mental health and family services due to concerns about online activity, including interest in school shootings and conflicts, Prevent referrals were dismissed. Rudakubana was described as reclusive and reluctant to engage with officials, leading to a "merry go round of referrals, assessments, case closures and hand offs" between agencies.
Ms. Mahmood stated that the government "owed" it to the victims to enact change and "right these wrongs." She confirmed that all central government recommendations from the inquiry have been accepted and that her department will drive this work with urgency. Phase two of the inquiry, which will consider the establishment of a single agency to coordinate interventions for high-risk children and young people, is scheduled to begin next week.