Child killers are walking free because of a simple loophole in the law.
The Argus made the case for closing this loophole almost three years ago at a meeting with Jack Straw, then Home Secretary.
Nothing happened.
Today we are calling for urgent action from his successor, David Blunkett.
And we expect action.
It is not only The Argus which has been vigorously calling for a change in the law.
Our campaign has the backing of the police, children's charities and thousands of loving parents, to whom these terrible crimes are abhorrent.
One Brighton couple killed three baby boys. There was no conviction.
A Portslade couple battered little John Smith and left him to die. Convicted of cruelty, they were jailed for a paltry eight years.
Research by Sussex Police suggests more than 300 children have been badly beaten or killed since our first meeting with Jack Straw.
No one can understand why the Government is so apparently reluctant to make a simple and obvious change to the law.
David Blunkett is ostensibly a man of common sense and compassion.
Parents all over Sussex are relying on him to act and act quickly.
The lives of countless children depend on it.
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