CVAA’s statement on the murder of Preston Davey

CVAA CEO, Satwinder Sandhu commented:

CVAA is deeply distressed by the circumstances surrounding the death of baby Preston Davey, a horrific case of physical and sexual abuse, and ultimately murder. Our thoughts are foremost with baby Preston’s family and all those who knew him, cared about him and loved him. We welcome the multiple guilty verdicts handed down to the prospective adopters involved in this case, based on irrefutable evidence.

What happened to Preston, a baby taken into care for protection soon after birth and then placed for adoption, is an unimaginable tragedy, and we recognise the impact the case has had on professionals, families and communities connected to adoption.

Adoption is primarily a safeguarding measure to give children who cannot remain with their birth families the opportunity for permanent care, alongside safety and care. Legal systems and processes which are evidence based, and robust, operate in the adoption sector and courts to ensure as far as possible that children are being placed for adoption with people who are not only well prepared and thoroughly assessed, but also safe. No system is flawless though and we know that sadly dangerous and predatory people who seek access to vulnerable children can sometimes navigate even the best processes, checks and expertise. Social workers can seek to minimise risks through the adoption process, but they cannot eradicate them completely.

As is often the case following a tragedy, professional colleagues and those within the immediate family network may have missed warning signs during the months Preston lived with his prospective adopters. This is likely to have a lasting negative impact on them.

An independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is already underway and when it is published we must ensure that sectors involved in work with adopted children take account of any findings and makes changes where necessary, even though outcome evidence tells us that the vast majority of adopters in the UK do provide safe care for their children and do not abuse them in any way. Our Voluntary Adoption Agency (VAA) members remain committed to learning and strengthening practice.

We are also aware that this case has brought significant attention to the LGBTQ+ adoptive community with concerning levels of online misinformation and instances of homophobic abuse and commentary. This is also deeply troubling and so it feels important to reiterate that someone identifying as LGBTQ+ has no bearing on instances of child abuse. VAAs stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities and reject in the strongest possible way any narratives that attempt to link this safeguarding tragedy to the sexuality of those involved. Individual cases, however serious and distressing, should not be used to make generalised assumptions about entire communities.

A third of all VAA adopters identify as part of LGBTQ+ communities, and this is something CVAA is immensely proud of. These individuals and families make invaluable contributions to children’s lives through adoption, offering safe, loving and stable homes to those who need them. The voluntary adoption sector remains firmly committed to recruiting and supporting diverse adopters from a wide range of communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. This commitment is rooted in the needs of children; many of whom benefit from being placed with families who reflect or respect their identity and experiences. The dedication from VAAs to supporting LGBTQ+ adopters remains strong and unchanged.

VAAs are also committed to maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability, which are subject to regular independent inspections. The assessment, approval and support processes for adoptive parents are thorough and applied consistently to all applicants, regardless of background. More information about the adoption process can be found here.

VAAs provide essential lifelong support to all their adoptive families and are here to listen, support and stand alongside anyone affected by the issues arising from Preston’s tragically short life.

16th June 2026