London child protection agencies are to step up their efforts to combat child abuse in faith groups after the convictions of three people who tortured an eight-year-old girl.

The girl's aunt, who cannot be identified, was found guilty of child cruelty, while Sita Kisanga and Sebastian Pinto were convicted of aiding and abetting.

They were convinced that the girl, who was brought to the UK from Angola by her aunt, was a witch.

The London Child Protection Committee (LCPC) is already consulting on a protocol for working with faith groups (Children Now, 20-26 April), and is now setting up a strategic, multi-agency sub-group to tackle the issue.

Social services chiefs will also take part in a new Metropolitan Police initiative, Project Violet, which will gather intelligence on the extent of abuse within African communities.

Another Met initiative, where community partnership officers in the London boroughs of Newham and Hackney work with African faith and community groups, is to continue after securing funding from the LCPC for another year.

Detective superintendent Chris Bourlet, of the Met's Child Abuse Investigation Command, said the next stage of Violet would be a conference to bring together community groups.

He was aware of 31 similar cases in London since 2000, but added: "Child abuse is under-reported anyway, and I suspect it's more under-reported (in African faith communities)."

The City and Hackney Safeguarding Board has launched an independent review into the case.

The girl was placed into care with Hackney council after she was found on the steps of a council flat, but was returned to her aunt a month later.

The case was reopened by Haringey council when the child and her aunt moved house. The girl is now 10 and in Haringey's care.