The death of baby Victoria Marten – why the safeguarding of vulnerable babies must be improved

In February 2026 the safeguarding practice review was published exploring the safeguarding issues raised by the death of Victoria Marten in 2023.

The death of baby Victoria Marten became one of the most disturbing child protection cases in recent years. Born in December 2022, Victoria spent the short span of her life on the run with her parents, who were attempting to evade social services after losing custody of their previous children. Instead of seeking help, the couple chose to live off the grid in freezing winter conditions. Victoria died within weeks, and her body was later found hidden in a shopping bag in a shed near Brighton. The case raised serious questions about how vulnerable children are protected and how warning signs can sometimes be missed.

An independent enquiry was launched to explore the distressing consequences of Victoria’s death, not only on an individual context but also nationally. This safeguarding review, as with all reviews, explores the unique characteristics of the case whilst exploring the intricacies of child neglect. Although rarely a predominant factor in case reviews, neglect is all too common in our day to day safeguarding practice.

The pregnancy of Victoria was concealed by her parents. Most believe this is due to their previous four children being removed by social services but it also meant that Victoria’s basic safety needs were not being met. Working with families who have had previous negative experiences with agencies, especially social care, is complex. The lack of engagement or the disguised compliance we are faced with can mean the support professionals want to offer or implement is delayed or simply doesn’t happen.

This safeguarding case review outlines key learning for practitioners when it comes to lack of parental engagement:

Parents’ or carers’ lack of engagement with services needs to be actively understood and addressed.

• Trauma can affect a parent or carer’s capacity to engage but it does not remove caregiver responsibility.
• Practice should be trauma-literate and intersectional.
• Multi-agency reflection is essential.
• Support for parents needs to extend beyond the conclusion of care proceedings.
• Support for parents should be personalised and tailored to their needs.
• Responsibility for engagement sits with services as well as with parents.
• Safeguarding systems should make sure that support for parents who have experienced trauma is distinct from statutory safeguarding roles and services.

(NSPCC, 2026)

Lack of parent support or engagement cannot be a barrier to safeguarding children. Agencies working together, trauma-informed responses and preventative support work are all mechanisms to support professionals and the complex relationships with parents.

What makes this safeguarding review arguably more complex is that there is a significant focus on concealed pregnancy. Safeguarding is difficult enough when we see the children in our schools or settings but how do we safeguard a child that hasn’t yet been born, especially if the mum is concealing the pregnancy? Currently there is no national guidance for how pre-birth proceedings go however, some NHS Trusts have developed their own. In this case professionals did foresee a risk of future concealed pregnancies but Victoria’s parents did not engage with any services.

It’s important to note here the difference between a concealed and a denied pregnancy; a concealed pregnancy is when a woman knows she is pregnant but deliberately hides it from others, whereas a denied pregnancy occurs when a woman is psychologically unaware of or unable to accept that she is pregnant, sometimes even until labour begins.

There are several reasons as to why a mother may conceal a pregnancy; fear of judgement or the child being taken away, previous negative experiences of professionals, trauma, domestic abuse or cultural/religious stigma. Many professionals will have experience of cases of families within settings where a pregnancy is concealed or there is a significant lack of engagement with maternity services.

As mentioned above, a prominent feature of concealed pregnancies is often domestic abuse. In this safeguarding practice review domestic abuse was present in the parents’ relationship. The review describes their relationship as co-dependant with coercion and control playing a significant role. As professionals we know that domestic abuse decreases the likelihood of a parent accepting interventions especially when they don’t recognise that they are being harmed.

With regards to domestic abuse, the review outlines the following:

• A lack of engagement may be a trauma response to domestic abuse and should not be interpreted as lack of consent or absence of risk.
• Coercive control can obscure vulnerability.
• Multi-agency co-ordination is essential.
• Specialist expertise is needed to interpret complex dynamics, including those involving mutual harm, denial or minimisation.
• Support needs to be accessible, sustained and tailored to the victim’s capacity to engage.
• Domestic abuse concerns need to be clearly documented and transferred between agencies.

(NSPCC, 2026)

Early years providers and schools can play an important role in supporting parents who may be concealing a pregnancy by creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where concerns can be discussed openly. Staff should be trained to recognise possible signs of pregnancy or distress and respond sensitively, offering opportunities for private conversations and encouraging the parent to access appropriate healthcare and support services. Following safeguarding procedures is essential, including working with designated safeguarding leads and, where necessary, referring to health professionals or social services to ensure both the parent and unborn baby receive the support and protection they need.

The death of baby Victoria Marten is a deeply tragic case that has raised serious questions about safeguarding and the protection of vulnerable children. It highlights the complex challenges faced by professionals when families disengage from support services. Ultimately, Victoria’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance, communication and early intervention to help ensure that every child is given the chance to grow up safe and protected.

Safeguarding experts within our team facilitate Designated Safeguarding Lead Training for Early Years Providers, which covers the statutory responsibilities for safeguarding children and babies within settings. Within this training, there is a focus on protecting vulnerable babies and how we must ensure that effective information sharing, professional curiosity and early intervention are all part of our every day practice. For more information on this training and our wider offer to Early Years providers, please get in touch – safeguarding@oneeducation.co.uk or visit our website.

For information on how to access One Education briefings and training please contact us on 0161 276 0160 or by emailing safeguarding@oneeducation.co.uk