Toni-Ann's mother has been traced in Jamaica

Toni-Ann Byfield and her father Bertram, 41, died at a bedsit in Kensal Green, north west London, on Sunday.

Police believe Toni-Ann, who was shot in the back, saw her father being gunned down and was killed to stop her identifying the gunman.

Birmingham Social Services department was responsible for the care of the girl, who had been known to them since the end of November 2002.

Despite being a ward of court and under social services care, Toni-Ann was still allowed to spend the weekend at the home of her father, a convicted criminal.

We must ensure that information was properly shared and that all the agencies that touched this little girl's life were working together Margaret Hodge, minister for children

Peter Hay, strategic director of Social Care and Health, said: "We immediately began a review of the case and are working closely with the area child protection committee and other agencies who will have known Toni-Ann.

"This review is always conducted when a child in the care of a local authority has died."

Less than a year ago an inquiry into the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie recommended better co-operation and vigilance amongst agencies dealing with children.

On Tuesday Margaret Hodge, the minister for children, said: "We must ensure that information was properly shared and that all the agencies that touched this little girl's life were working together. Those are the key issues we need to address."

Toni-Ann's mother, Christine Richards, has been traced in Jamaica and told of her daughter's death.

Flowers have been laid outside the bedsit in north west London

The seven-year-old arrived in the UK from Jamaica in June 2000 and stayed with relatives in Birmingham.

She was due to start primary school this week.

Her father, also known as Tony, was born in Beckenham, London, but grew up in Jamaica, returning to Britain 11 years ago.

In 1997 he served a nine-year jail sentence for drugs charges and had been living in Harrow Road, the scene of the shooting, for two years.

Mr Bertram had survived a previous attack in 2002 in which he was shot six times.

Following that attack, Robert Grant, 23, was acquitted of attempted murder and possessing a firearm at the Old Bailey on 4 October.

Heard shots and scream

The investigation into the deaths of the father and daughter has been taken over by Operation Trident, which deals with gun crime in London's black community.

But Detective Chief Superintendent John Coles said: "I can't rule out that the killers are white or any other group."

It is the first time Operation Trident has investigated the death of a child.

The father and daughter were found still alive at the bedsit just after midnight on Sunday, after neighbours reported hearing shots and a scream - thought to be Toni-Ann.

They died before they reached hospital.

Meanwhile a 23-year-old man arrested on Monday night in connection with the incident has been bailed until October pending further inquiries.

He remains in custody at a north London police station in connection with suspected immigration offences, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police on 020 8358 0608.