The brother of murdered seven-year-old Joel Urhie was known to be at risk at least a month before the suspected arson attack at his home, sources have claimed.

Brother Sam Urhie, 21, was allegedly stabbed in a knife fight attended by police on Adolphus Street in Deptford on June 11, near the family home which was later set ablaze in the early hours of August 7.

It is understood police shared this information with social services at Lewisham Council, raising concerns over whether enough was done to safeguard the family.

A source has claimed the Adolphus Street home could have been fitted with a panic alarm and fire-proof letter box if the family were known to be at risk.

Joel’s murder investigation is ongoing amid reports that the boy’s older brother may have been the target and the attack gang-related.

But information shared with the Local Democracy Reporting service suggests Sam Urhie was not in a gang, but was known to police for drug dealing, weapons, robbery and burglary.

Despite the family being known to social services at Lewisham Council, a spokesperson confirmed there will not be a serious case review of the incident.

Local authorities usually carry out a serious case review when a child is killed or seriously injured and there are safeguarding concerns, a measure Deptford MP Vicky Foxcroft said should be carried out as part of a public health approach to youth violence.

She said: “In the youth violence commission report in July last year one of the recommendations was around the public health approach to youth violence.

“In Croydon they did a big review of all their youth deaths and lessons have been learned from that.

“It is about using the public health approach in London and those lessons that may be we need to look into for other boroughs,” she said.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: "Although it doesn’t meet the criteria for a serious case review we will review to see if there are any lessons to be learnt for the agencies involved.

“The death of an innocent child in his own home was an absolute tragedy that shook the local community and everyone concerned. The council is currently in contact with the Urhie family and we are providing the support we can. Due to the on-going police investigation, it is not possible to comment further."

The independent chairwoman of the Lewisham Safeguarding Board said: "Local Safeguarding Childrens Boards undertake Serious case reviews when a child has died or has been seriously injured and abuse or neglect of a child is known or suspected. This is not the case with this family. The coroner will be making full enquiries into the circumstances of this sad case."

The Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment.