Local government solicitors have defended colleagues at the London Borough of Haringey against press criticism of their role in the case of ‘Baby P’.

Suzanne Bond, chair of Solicitors in Local Government, said that some media coverage of the case had been ‘chilling’ in its search for a scapegoat.

Baby P, a 17-month-old boy, died following serious abuse while on the risk-register. Three adults were last week convicted of causing or allowing the death.

An internal inquiry by Haringey’s safeguarding children board was critical of legal advice issued about the child’s care. Other criticisms include a delay in providing legal advice as well as a shortage of experienced specialist child protection lawyers.

Bond said it would be wrong to make assumptions until all investigations are completed, and that a solicitor’s decision has to be based on evidence. ‘Childcare solicitors take their responsibilities seriously,’ she said. ‘To be looking for a scapegoat does not help the situation.’

Barbara Hopkin, a partner at Hopkin Murray Beskine and press officer at the Association of Lawyers for Children, said: ‘Solicitors do not have first-hand information of the case. ‘The lawyer has to apply the law on the evidence given. We need to see what went wrong in this case.’