Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the death of Shukri Abdi. I was very sorry to hear about this extremely sad case and send my deepest condolences to Shukri’s family.

As you will be aware, following Shukri’s death, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it was treating what happened as a “tragic incident” and did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances. The Independent Office for Police Conduct announced in August 2019 that it would investigate GMP’s handling of the case.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester says he has written to the coroner pledging support for the process that is underway and calling for “the widest possible investigation into what happened both on the day and in the months leading up to it, looking at the actions of all public bodies involved.” He has further said, “once the inquest is concluded we will of course, consider what further action may be needed on the back of it.” The Mayor has outlined a commitment to ensuring “the truth of what happened is clearly established.” While I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing legal matter, I can assure you I will be monitoring developments closely.

The local MP representing the family of Shukri Abdi has raised the case with the Secretary of State for Education.

In response, the Secretary of State for Education wrote to the Interim Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel and asked for reassurances that “all the facts have been properly established.” He further asked the Chair to “liaise with the safeguarding partners in Bury to see if any further information relating to Shukri’s life and events leading to her death has come to light.”

In your emails, you also raised general concerns about how asylum seekers are accommodated. I have long had concerns that our asylum accommodation system is not fit for purpose and can assure you I will continue to urge the Government to ensure our asylum system is effective, fair and humane.

Thank you once again for contacting me and for sharing your views, which I will continue to bear in mind.