AN inquiry into the death of a toddler has recommended improvements be made in communication between social services, the police and health services.

It follows an investigation into the death of 13-month-old Kieron Brown, of Malton, North Yorkshire.

A report by North Yorkshire Area Child Protection Committee said improvements were needed in investigations into child deaths, hospital record-keeping, and communications in the NHS.

Kieron died in December 2000 after suffering severe injuries at the hands of Pickering builder Kevin Raw, who was jailed for life last year for his murder.

Raw, 40 of Elm Drive, Pickering, was said at his trial at Leeds Crown Court to have inflicted so many injuries and broken so many bones that Keiron resembled a car crash victim.

Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust was told by Dr Ian Holland, the medical director, that action had been taken to meet the recommendations of the case review into Kieron's death.

The report concluded that there was evidence immediately following Kieron's death of an inability of staff from the NHS, the police and social services to share information appropriately, to provide a co-ordinated response and to undertake a child protection investigation.

The committee added: "The police senior investigating officer appears to have decided that the child protection investigation should be subordinate to the criminal investigation. This should, in the unanimous view of the committee members, not be the case."

Raw was the partner of Kieron's mother, Deborah, and the trial heard that he blamed her for the campaign of brutality and painful death of the toddler.

He was jailed for life with a recommendation from the judge that he serve at least 15 years.