By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-01-22 15:01:13 | Updated at 2025-01-22 18:10:59
3 hours ago
Labour MP James Frith has issued a scathing critique of Britain's social services, describing their failure to prevent the Southport attack as a "damning" indictment of the system.
Speaking during PMQs Live on GB News, Frith highlighted what he called "a failure of a joined up social services system that has repeatedly been warned and failed to act".
The attack, carried out by Axel Rudakubana at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last summer, resulted in the deaths of three young girls.
Frith emphasised that while individual judgments should be measured, the systemic failures were clear.
James Frith has hit out at social services failings in the case of Axel Rudakubana
GB News / CPS
"Whether it's an under-investment or a lack of scrutiny and oversight, a number of the social services have systemically failed to pick up this issue, and the worst has happened for these three girls and their families," he said.
The Labour MP stressed that while knife access was a crucial issue, the broader failures of social services demanded urgent attention.
"It's not complicit in the act, but is certainly unintentionally given permission for such acts to happen," Frith added in what he termed a "damning statement on our social services".
The Southport attacker had purchased the murder weapon from Amazon without significant barriers, when he was 17-years-old.
"There's a changing face of the risks of terrorism in this country, and the online hate, the radicalisation that is also being accessed by some of these loners and monsters," he said during the GB News discussion.
The Labour MP called for a comprehensive review of existing protective measures.
He acknowledged the complexity of predicting such attacks, stating: "We shouldn't cast too much judgment, given that you can never know for sure as somebody that is reported will go on and do such an appalling act."
However, Frith insisted that both knife access restrictions and social service reforms needed urgent attention.
Frith told GB News there is a 'changing face of the risks of terrorism in this country'
GB News
In response to the attack, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced stricter measures for online knife purchases, requiring two forms of identification.
The new requirements will mandate that buyers provide documents such as a passport or driving licence, along with a live video verification of their age.
Amazon has responded to the incident by launching an urgent investigation, stating they take their responsibility around age-restricted items "extremely seriously."
The online retailer confirmed they use ID verification services to check personal details and require age verification upon delivery.
