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Original poster

Southport report lays bare the failures of authorities - and the attacker's parents

388 replies

IwantToRetire · 13/04/2026 18:30

The words "failure", "failing" and "failed" appear more than 200 times in Monday's Southport Report

Its findings leave almost no agency, organisation or individual involved in Axel Rudakubana’s life unscathed.

The police, council, mental health services, Prevent programme – none of them took ownership of the risks that he posed.

Only The Acorn School, which the attacker attended after being expelled from Range High School, is noted as having repeatedly intervened.

But the Chair of the inquiry, Sir Adrian Fulford, also clearly believes in parental responsibility.

The attacker's father, in particular, is described as "obstructive" and "manipulative" in relation to the authorities.

It is rare to see a killer’s parents singled-out for not doing more to prevent their child’s crimes.

Together, the Southport attack was a failure of both parenting and policy – nobody, says the Chair, agreed who was responsible for the troubled teenager.

There was a "merry-go-round of referrals, assessments, case-closures and 'hand-offs'", he says.

There is even a specific moment when Sir Adrian believes the murders could have been prevented, after the attacker was caught with a knife on a bus in 2022.

But no arrest or search of his home took place, leaving the poison in his bedroom and the warped search history on his computer undetected.

The report’s recommendations include setting up an agency with overall responsibility for monitoring risk, to avoid repeat failings.
But there are searching questions too about access to online materials for children, the availability of weapons and the complexities of the attacker’s autism (the Chair is keen not to stigmatise others with condition).

Ultimately, only the attacker can account for his crimes. But for the families of the victims and survivors, today’s report contains the painful conclusion that he could – and should – have been stopped.

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-04-13/southport-report-finds-failures-by-authorities-and-at-home

The Southport Inquiry: Phase 1 report
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-southport-inquiry-phase-1-report

The Southport Inquiry: Phase 1 report

Phase 1 report of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the Southport attack of 29 July 2024.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-southport-inquiry-phase-1-report

OP posts:
Happytaytos · 13/04/2026 20:06

BettyBooper · 13/04/2026 20:02

It feels to me that there has been a huge shift from public protection to individual consideration.

I think the shift has swung far too far and that actually, we are now doing a massive disservice to individuals who do pose high risk of harm and to the public who deserve better.

Show quote history

I agree.

Ask any secondary school teacher. They will tell you that excuses are made all over the place for violent teens who go on to become violent adults.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 13/04/2026 20:06

In America those parents would now be in jail.

BettyBooper · 13/04/2026 20:05

Oh and yes, I do believe they are frightened of these men. Absolutely.

BettyBooper · 13/04/2026 20:02

DworkinWasRight · 13/04/2026 19:51

It’s very similar to the Valdo Calocane case. He had a lengthy history of violence, but opportunities to prevent escalation were repeatedly missed. I wonder if the authorities are simply too frightened of these men to do anything about them.

It feels to me that there has been a huge shift from public protection to individual consideration.

I think the shift has swung far too far and that actually, we are now doing a massive disservice to individuals who do pose high risk of harm and to the public who deserve better.

DworkinWasRight · 13/04/2026 19:51

It’s very similar to the Valdo Calocane case. He had a lengthy history of violence, but opportunities to prevent escalation were repeatedly missed. I wonder if the authorities are simply too frightened of these men to do anything about them.

ERthree · 13/04/2026 19:48

Teenthree · 13/04/2026 18:35

I think it’s desperately simplistic to blame the parents in THIS particular case. They were trauma victims themselves and clearly had inadequate support - and services are so stretched that they were all just left to go quiet. It must have been terrifying for them to watch their child spiral downwards.

His parents knew at least a week before that he intended to attack his former school. His room was full of weapons and poison he had ordered online, where did he get the money for these? From his parents that is where, Quite frankly the pair of them should be serving jail sentences too along with all the hand wringing idiots that made a 1001 excuses for this absolute maniac. Three little girls murdered in the most horrific way, eight other little girls and two adults injured and many other children frightened and still scared now all because no adult would do what needed to be done. Instead of locking this crazy evil young adult away they cited Autism as the reason he was a bad bastard, like autism excuses everything, like it is a get out of jail free card. Alice, Bebe and Elsie dead because 2 parents kept their mouths shut that week and adults made excuses.

BettyBooper · 13/04/2026 19:47

Arran2024 · 13/04/2026 19:12

It seems to me that if they had reported him, the agencies involved would just have held more meetings, made more referrals.

I have two adopted children, adults now, both doing OK, but I know plenty of adopters who have begged and begged for help for seriously disturbed children and simply been sent on yet another parenting course. There are practically no services for children who might commit serious crimes - you have to actually commit the crime before the authorities pay attention.

There has been a huge push in recent years to keep kids out of the Court system, by way of non-court disposals.

On one hand this is a good idea because, back in the day, kids would end up meeting others of similar persuasion at the Court itself.

On the other hand it has masked a serious amount of risk within some young people and has left agencies with little proper recourse. But, of course, crime figures look better - it can easily be manipulated to look like youth crime has reduced. I'm afraid I don't share that view.

To think that there isn't a proportion of young people who absolutely take advantage (deliberately or not) of the current system is seriously naive.

I appreciate that you are talking about young people who have yet to commit crimes, but in my experience, even if they do there is little recourse. Your experience doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 13/04/2026 19:47

Just wanted to post that I am not in anyway forgetting the horrible deaths of three young girls.

And those who survived and are still lving with the horror of that day, and some with ongoing physical and mental health problems.

And the heartbreaking stories of how these young girls helped each other in the absence of any adults.

Flowers
OP posts:
Stampoun · 13/04/2026 19:32

The bit I saw today sounded like the Chair of the enquiry was blaming the parents in the context of all the weapons, ordered online, which were delivered to the house and they did nothing about and didn’t report them to anyone. Were there other bits as well?

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 13/04/2026 19:16

Arran2024 · 13/04/2026 19:12

It seems to me that if they had reported him, the agencies involved would just have held more meetings, made more referrals.

I have two adopted children, adults now, both doing OK, but I know plenty of adopters who have begged and begged for help for seriously disturbed children and simply been sent on yet another parenting course. There are practically no services for children who might commit serious crimes - you have to actually commit the crime before the authorities pay attention.

"No Risk" Assessment: Six days before the July 2024 attack, he was discharged from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) with a report that concluded: “Poses risk to others – None”.

Missed Red Flags: Although he was referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism program, that, and other assessments, failed to recognise his increasing risk, with some staff wrongly attributing his behavior to autism rather than potential violence.

Ignored Incidents: Authorities did not adequately investigate or "join the dots" regarding earlier incidents, such as his possession of a knife on a bus in 2022,

OP posts:
Arran2024 · 13/04/2026 19:12

It seems to me that if they had reported him, the agencies involved would just have held more meetings, made more referrals.

I have two adopted children, adults now, both doing OK, but I know plenty of adopters who have begged and begged for help for seriously disturbed children and simply been sent on yet another parenting course. There are practically no services for children who might commit serious crimes - you have to actually commit the crime before the authorities pay attention.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 13/04/2026 18:56

Teenthree · 13/04/2026 18:35

I think it’s desperately simplistic to blame the parents in THIS particular case. They were trauma victims themselves and clearly had inadequate support - and services are so stretched that they were all just left to go quiet. It must have been terrifying for them to watch their child spiral downwards.

I partly used this news reports as quite a few have headlines that make out it is all the fault of the parents.

And its not for me to tell them what they should or shouldn't have done. Because as was discussed on another thread what do you or can you do if you are frightend of your own child. And / or the authorities dont listen to you.

And if the parents were failing why didn't the support services step in let alone Prevent (or who ever it was).

Those in power just dont seem to understand that more and more violence is lone men / boys, who probably dont have an actual beliefs, but just looking for anything that justifies (to them) acts of violence.

OP posts:
Teenthree · 13/04/2026 18:35

I think it’s desperately simplistic to blame the parents in THIS particular case. They were trauma victims themselves and clearly had inadequate support - and services are so stretched that they were all just left to go quiet. It must have been terrifying for them to watch their child spiral downwards.