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

[IwantToRetire]

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

Well its really down to the company that provide the tutors whether they provide it at home or not, these are private companies, tendered by the LA (most LAs are a tendering/commissioned LA) so a tender goes out, someone bids for the job, and thats the company used. Then you have to rely on availability, timings and whether that tutor wants to work within the home or an office or the library etc etc

I suppose some LA might have their own tutors but I would guess not many these days given everything has been outsourced all over the place.

And at the end of the day they dont have to accept the job.

Yes some LAs do (or did) have well established set ups and systems going back over 20 years aimed towards reintegration but I'm guessing that they are swamped nowadays like everywhere else. I think a lot of LAs were caught by surprise.

And its also not a given that tuition is going to be offered in any case, I cant remember why he wasnt attending the PRU, was this because they withdrew his place and so he didnt have a school place? Or was it just through non attendance/school refusal? In which case tutoring is not likely to be offered.

I think they withdrew his place. In some places home tutoring would be offered to work towards reintegration (home to base to school). But yes that would depend on the level of risk - although I have known home tutoring for CYP expelled from PRUs.

If he had no place then tutoring is on offer, but as I say people use the term 'home tutoring' as a phrase, it doesnt mean 'at home'. Rarely as far as Im aware, not just with my LA

We need to bring back proper mental instututions.

There was historic abuse, but I'm sure with cctv and increased checks they could be done properly now.

I forgot to reply to this - sorry you went through all of that. Yes I agree - far too conceptual for people to understand and even psychiatrists mistake it for something else eg anxiety, stress esp in the lead up period. I think unless you're alert to symptoms it's very tricky and even then people say it's just stress/ASD/whatever. And as parents if you're told it's all part of ASD then you accept that when you really need EIT.

Thank you 😊 but no need to be sorry. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that happening. So weirdly I wouldn’t change it.

Also in a strange way a privilege to go to the edge of the human mind and come back. Most people are not so lucky.

If you ever think even 50% that’s the issue with your child then please act fast. Dont let it go! Do not accept it! Being on antipsychotics for a short period will not mess you up. Failing to act will 100% fuck someone up for life.

I've had it too but it was very understandably mistaken for stress - which did kind of cause it - until full on hallucinations. So I very much do get it. It's really not how I was expecting it to be or what friends and family thought it would be too. It gave me so much respect for people with schizophrenia. You become an amazing actor! Can never see a self service till in the same light and had no idea until then how many coincidences there are!

Was shocked to find out how common it is. Had no idea as people don't talk about it.

Very important to contact Early Intervention In Psychosis Team who actually do have resources!

Talk of home Ed is besides the point. Read part 1 of the Report. He was an enrolled student at Presfield High. Lancashire CC would not accept the school could not meet his needs yet didn’t attend his annual EHCP review. He was on roll there for 2 years and his attendance was 0.7 %. The timeline of events and nothing being done is truly horrific. So he wasn’t going to get home Ed!

Thank you, that’s really interesting for you to to share your story 🌷 Agree about the coincidences! In a way it’s quite an amazing thing to have experienced 😅

Mine was stress induced too I believe.

And yes yes 🙌 Early intervention teams are amazing! That’s why I am so surprised this fell through the gaps.

As a fellow survivor do you think he had psychosis too then?

@Thekidsarefightingagain

Ah no sorry, I see you are not 100%

Didnt realise it was you I was having the convo with earlier!

Getting there! It's been a LOT. Our situation turned out well in the end so we were lucky and that was thanks to a coordinated approach led by social care (who did not have an easy job!). I just feel very passionate about raising awareness of the level of trauma that the family went through, how unsupported they were in all of this and how alone they must've felt.

I just don't know what happened to him tbh! It's very sad and had such terrible consequences.