A new report examines agency contact and the emergency response to the 2024 attack. Police and the region’s commissioner say lessons must be learned and acted on.
The first phase of a public inquiry into the June 2024 attack in Southport, which resulted in the deaths of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, has reached a somber conclusion. The inquiry, led by Sir Adrian Fulford, has determined that the violence was both predictable and preventable. The victims were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana. In his report, Fulford identified a critical "culture of responsibility" being passed between various agencies, with no single body taking ownership of the threat posed by the perpetrator.
Fulford stated, "The attack that led to the death was preventable." He emphasized that the event would likely not have occurred if the perpetrator’s parents had reported the full extent of his behavior to authorities in late July 2024.
Furthermore, the inquiry highlighted a "serious failure" by relevant agencies to share information about the perpetrator’s risk profile, assess that risk effectively, and act in a coordinated manner to mitigate the threat. Chris Walker, a solicitor with Bond Turner representing the affected families, described the failure of the involved agencies as "totally unacceptable." He emphasized that there were multiple layers of concern, starting with the legal framework, followed by the individual failings of agencies including children’s social services and the police.
"Every one of those agencies, if they had done their job properly, the attack would never have occurred," Walker said. He warned that individuals across five agencies could face disciplinary action if appropriate steps are not taken.
Looking forward, the inquiry is now shifting its focus to the second phase, which will examine the broader legal framework and systemic issues. Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, a solicitor with Fletchers representing the families of the injured children, expressed the families' hope that the inquiry’s recommendations will lead to meaningful change. "We move forward to phase two with the hope and expectation that these recommendations will be actioned and that change will follow," she said, adding that this is the legacy the children deserve.
