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Top Judge to Review Cases
A High Court judge is to asked to look into social services and welfare experts handling of cases involving Brentwood children, taken into Care or put up for Adoption.
The news was announced during a closed Hearing at Chelmsford County Court, at which moves to adopt a Brentwood couple’s children, against the parents were being considered
A High Court judge is to asked to look into social services and welfare experts handling of cases involving Brentwood children, taken into Care or put up for Adoption. The news was announced during a closed Hearing at Chelmsford County Court, at which moves to adopt a Brentwood couple’s children, against the parents were being considered. It came days after Police confirmed they would no look into allegations against social workers and expert witnesses in such cases – unless a judge specifically asked him to. The Brentwood couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been fighting social services over the adoption of their son and daughter, ever since the children were taken into Care, last October. On Monday, the couple were told their case and others would be brought before the High Court Judge , sitting in the Chelmsford County Court, on July 6. County officials insist this is not significant and they say it is not unusual for senior judges to travel from London to Chelmsford to hear welfare cases. But a spokesman conceded: “As a High Court Judge is due to sit in Chelmsford in Chelmsford in July to deal with a number of childcare cases, it has been decided that the judge will also be asked to consider the recent allegations made to the police. Campaigning parents wanted police to look at evidence given under oath in closed Family Court Hearings to do with Care and Adoption. Parents say in these Hearings, they are not allowed to challenge claims made by professionals, even when they feel the claims are misleading. Essex Police argues that because family matters are heard in civil courts, it is not allowed to intervene unless the courts ask it to. In a letter to one of the families concerned, dated 8 June, Detective Superintendent Simon Coxall of the force’s Crime Division wrote: “Having considered all the circumstances as outlined to us, and particularly the fat that the welfare of children is involved, we feel that the most appropriate course of action is to refer the concerns as raised, to the county court. Set. Supt. Coxall cites an earlier legal ruling which stated that , unless police received direct Orders from a judge, they had to assume perjury claims in Family Court Hearings were baseless. Chris Smith, of Essex support group, Parents against Injustice, criticised Det. Supt Coxall’s conclusion. He said “The parents have gone to the police with documentation and I don’t see why we should have to go through all these problems to get the Police to investigate. “If you ran a shop and you were the victim of a smash and grab, you would not have to go to the courts with your case”. A police spokesman said the parents allegations were being dealt with in accordance with force procedures, adding: “The civil courts concerned will be advised of the allegations being made”. END
Further information that has now been received that has a relevance to the above article|: In the case of the Brentwood parents facing the ' Final Hearing before Clearance for Adoption' on 6 July 2005, there has been a significant development. The Court Order has identified that besides the drafting in of a High Court Judge in the case, " the Police ( Essex Police ) have made the Court aware that this case ( Brentwood parents ) is one of a number in which allegations have been made to Essex Police in relation to irregularities on the part of the Local Authority in Care Proceedings". Please note, this is a COURT ORDER! |
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