Serious case review into Matthews family

The review will be independently chaired. Council leader Robert Light said: "Matters surrounding the Karen Matthews trial are among issues that have put child care and safeguarding in the public eye this week. I think it is important that there is an independent review of the history and records of all agencies dealings with the family."

He added: "People must understand that, without exception, we do act on reports of serious concern that are made to us. They are followed through and appropriate action taken."

Alison O'Sullivan, director for children and young people at the council, said: "We are acutely aware that the difficult issues surrounding child protection and the promotion of child welfare by Local Authorities are rightly the subject of huge public interest. Kirklees Council and the agencies it works alongside strive in all cases to achieve a proper balance between rigorous statutory intervention and social support for children and families who may be struggling to cope. "

Karen Matthews was convicted yesterday of kidnap and false imprisonment of her daughter Shannon, and of perverting the course of justice.

Kirklees Council announced earlier this week that two senior councillors would oversee a general review of the council's processes and working practices for child protection and safeguarding. Jim Dodds, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We are not carrying out this review because we have any specific concerns, but because we need to be seen to be responding to understandable and widely publicised national cases, which have an indirect impact on all agencies working in the field of child care, child protection, and safeguarding."