Probably the best posting on this horrible case yet, Fionn. However, in this case I believe there was good reason to believe that the police and social workers were intimidated by the violence of the "father". A big, strong, habitually violent man would scare the Hell out of me and I have been training in fighting sports for over thirty years. In some areas policemen, social workers, firemen or even hospital staff face violence and intimidation on a regular basis. I do not have an easy answer either, although I agree with just about every word you and McGrath have posted. It is very much the "me first" culture which has brought this about.