12-year-old boy charged with murder of social worker
Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 12 April, 2023
A 12-year-old boy has been charged with murdering a 60-year-old social worker by running her over with her own car.
Marcia Grant, described as “a pillar of the community” where she lived and worked in Sheffield, died following the incident outside her home on 5 April.
The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday where he spoke only to confirm that he understood what the judge was telling him. He did not enter any pleas and is also charged with possession of a knife.
The boy was remanded into secure youth custody and ordered to return to court for a further hearing on 5 May.
He is accused of killing Grant outside her home in the Greenhill area of Sheffield, on the edge of the Peak District.
The boy is one of the youngest to be prosecuted for murder in Britain. Barristers and the judge did not wear their normal gowns and wigs during his court appearance in recognition of his age.
Judge Richardson KC said it was important the trial took place as soon as possible, given the “exceptionally serious” nature of the offences.
The trial is scheduled for either 14 August or 3 October, depending on the availability of lawyers, Richardson told the boy.
No other details of the circumstances of the incident are being released pending the trial. It is not known whether Marcia was working at the time.
In a statement issued via South Yorkshire police, Grant’s family said: “Marcia was a warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community. Her loss has already sent shockwaves through all who knew her or was lucky enough to be included in her orbit.”
BASW England passed on its “sincere condolences” to Marcia’s family, friends and colleagues.
National director Maris Stratulis said: “We at BASW, and the social work community, are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic and awful news. Our thoughts are with Marcia’s family, friends and colleagues at this devastating time.”
The risks social workers face in their work has been previously highlighted.
Last year a social worker in Northern Ireland was stabbed three times by a 16-year-old teenager with whom she was working.
BASW’s annual survey - published earlier this year - found nearly half of social workers have been verbally abused during work and a quarter threatened with physical violence.
The Social Workers Union (SWU) has campaigned for social workers to be included in the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill.
The bill, passed in 2018, aims to give tougher sentencing for assaulting workers including police officers, paramedics, public-facing NHS staff, firefighters and prison officers.
But despite social workers being described by BASW chief executive as the “forgotten emergency service”, the government refused to include them in the law change.
John McGowan, general secretary of the Social Workers Union (SWU), called for the profession to be given equal protection.
He said: “Our thoughts are with Marcia's family, friends and colleagues. As this court case is ongoing, we are reluctant to comment on this extremely sad case.
“Nonetheless, many SWU members have been reporting violent incidents with us for several years and, as a member-led organisation, it is vital that we continue to listen to social workers and act on this.
“We firmly believe that social workers are entitled to parity of esteem with other public sector professionals such as the police and health workers in the NHS and other emergency workers when doing their jobs.
“BASW and SWU will continue to campaign for working conditions that enable social workers to thrive and support their communities safely.”