Children appealed against dismissal of their care proceedings on the basis that the threshold had not been reached. The parents resisted. Held: It could not be said that the decision so plainly wrong that the judge’s conclusion on the facts could be set aside. Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 853, [2010] 1 FLR 431, [2010] 1 … Continue reading Re MA and Others (Children): CA 31 Jul 2009
The father appealed an order refusing direct contact, and that no further application should be made for five years. Citations: [2006] EWCA Civ 348 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 91(14) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 05 December 2022; Ref: scu.240089
A person had been assessed by the local authority under section 47 as being a person in urgent need of care and attention which was not otherwise available to him, so that he satisfied the criteria laid down in section 21(1)(a). He claimed that, following that assessment, the local authority had to meet these needs … Continue reading Regina v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (ex parte Kujtim): CA 31 Mar 1999
Citations: [1997] EWCA Civ 2265, (1997) 1 CCLR 57, [1997] 4 All ER 532, [1997] 38 BMLR 135 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Regina v Sefton Borough Council ex parte Help the Aged Admn 26-Mar-1997 A Local Authority was entitled to look to its financial resources before setting the standards and levels … Continue reading Regina v Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council ex parte Help the Aged ex parte Blanchard: CA 31 Jul 1997
After a family break up there had been continued litigation, and a refusal to comply with court orders by the mother. Eventually, the contact between mother an children all but broke down. There were three children. As the two elder children in turn reached majority, they went back to live with their mother, but allegations … Continue reading Re A (a Minor): CA 31 Jul 1997
The father was not married to the mother who, without consulting the father, registered the child in the name of her former husband by whom she had previously had two children. The father sought various orders under the Children Act, including a parental responsibility order and a specific issue order to change the child’s surname … Continue reading Dawson v Wearmouth: CA 31 Jul 1997
The court took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of parental responsibility as an incident of family life. McFarlane LJ said: ‘Whether or not a parent has parental responsibility is not simply a matter that achieves the ticking of a box on a form. It is a significant matter of status as between parent and … Continue reading In re W (Children) (Direct Contact): CA 24 Jul 2012
Guardian ad Litem may see and reproduce form F from Local Authority in adoption proceedings. Citations: Ind Summary 31-Jan-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 42(1)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Adoption Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.85889
(Plenary Court) The applicant was held in prison in the UK, pending extradition to the US to face allegations of murder, for which he faced the risk of the death sentence, which would be unlawful in the UK. If extradited, a representation would be made to the judge at the time of sentencing that the … Continue reading Soering v The United Kingdom: ECHR 7 Jul 1989
The children had been taken into care, and freed for adoption. The mother appealed saying the blame for non-accidental injury was misplaced. The court had not thought her responsible for the non-accidental injuries, but she had been unwilling to separate from the assumed perpetrator. Held: The mother had now taken the step of breaking free. … Continue reading In re K (Children) (Non-accidental injuries: Perpetrator: New Evidence): CA 27 Aug 2004
The mother JJ’s first baby had died after physical abuse inflicted either by her or the father. In care proceedings for a later child, the judge concluded ‘T-L’s injuries could have been inflicted by either, or both, of them. Singling out a likely perpetrator does not help this couple because it must be debatable as … Continue reading In re J (Children): CA 3 Apr 2012
The mother appealed against a judge’s refusal in care proceedings to make a direction under section 38(6) of the Children Act 1989. Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 661 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 13 September 2022; Ref: scu.440315
In each case litigants in person had sought to be allowed to have the assistance and services of a Mackenzie friend in children cases. In one case, the court had not allowed confidential documents to be disclosed to the friend. Held: The courts had been unhelpful to the parties appearing before them. If given access … Continue reading O and others (Children); In re O (Children), In re W-R (a Child), In re W (Children): CA 22 Jun 2005
Care proceedings Judges: Floyd, King , Moylan LJJ Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 1714, [2019] WLR(D) 566 Links: Bailii, WLRD Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 31 August 2022; Ref: scu.642662
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
At the council’s independent, single-sex grammar schools there were more places available for boys than girls. Consequently the council were obliged to set a higher pass mark for girls than boys in the grammar school entrance examination. Held: The council, as local education authority, had discriminated against girls. Discrimination can take place when a woman … Continue reading Regina v Birmingham City Council ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission: HL 1989
Three elder brothers and sisters of Z had been taken into care after one suffered serious non-accidental injury. Before Z’s birth the authority planned for a placement, but had stayed with her parents for nearly a year subject to supervision in the hope that she could stay there. The evidence was that she could not … Continue reading The Local Authority v RK and RU and Z (by her Children’s Guardian): FD 21 Aug 2008
The father sought to withdraw his application for contact, but the court took the opportunity to explain some points relating to contact disputes. Held: Such disputes engender very deep feelings. Courts must ensure contact with both parents save when absolutely necessary. Joint residence order should be more widespread, but they were not the default order. … Continue reading The Father v The Mother, O by Cafcass Legal; In re O (a Child) (Contact: Withdrawal of application): FD 12 Dec 2003
The claimant challenged refusal by the defendant to provide financial support for his studies. Judges: Laws, McCombe LJJ, Sir Stanley Burnton Citations: [2013] EWCA Civ 960, [2013] WLR(D) 322 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Children Act 1989 23C(4) 24B(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Kebede and Another v Secretary of State for Business … Continue reading Kebede and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Newcastle City Council: CA 31 Jul 2013
The court considered the benefits to a child of continuing parental contact while the child remained in care. Simon Brown LJ said: ‘I recognise of course that the threshold criteria for a care order under section 31 of the 1989 Act require the court to be satisfied that a child is suffering or is likely … Continue reading In re E (A Minor) (Care Order: Contract): CA 1994
Application for leave to appeal – adjourned for two man court. Judges: Wilson LJ Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 65 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 09 July 2022; Ref: scu.248393
The Court allowed an appeal by parents against a judge’s conclusion that their children had suffered and were likely to suffer significant harm and it remitted the issue for re-hearing. The professional evidence had been that the parents’ deficiencies had had ‘subtle and ambiguous consequences’ for the children. Such consequences could not amount to significant … Continue reading Re L (Children), (Care Proceedings: Significant Harm): CA 25 Aug 2006
Judges: King, Lindblom, Peter Jackson LJJ Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 575, [2019] WLR(D) 208 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 14 June 2022; Ref: scu.635638
The court was asked, in proceedings for care and supervision orders under the Act, what have the local authority to be in a position to prove at the time when they make the application? To what extent can they rely upon evidence, which emerges, or events, which take place between the date of the application … Continue reading G (Children): CA 22 Jun 2001
Citations: [1999] EWCA Civ 1980 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 31 May 2022; Ref: scu.146895
The council had taken the applicant’s children into care alleging that the mother had harmed them. In the light of the subsequent cases casting doubt on such findings, the mother sought the return of her children. She applied now that the hearings be in public. Held: The applicant and her solicitors had already made significant … Continue reading Kent County Council v The Mother, The Father, B (By Her Children’s Guardian); Re B (A Child) (Disclosure): FD 19 Mar 2004
The court was asked whether the daughter of Cecil Parkinson and Sarah Keays should be permitted to take part in a television programme about the specialist help she was receiving for her special educational needs. Held: The court refused to vary an injunction against publication of any details with regard to a particular child. This … Continue reading In re Z (A Minor) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): CA 31 Jul 1995
The Court of Appeal had imposed conditions upon the care plan to be implemented by the local authorities, identifying certain ‘starred’ essential milestones. The local authorities appealed. Held: This was not a legitimate extension of the powers contained in the 1989 Act. There exist clear problems in local authorities implementing care plans, and those difficulties … Continue reading Re S (Children: Care Plan); In re W and B (Children: Care plan) In re W (Child: Care plan): HL 14 Mar 2002
Immediately after a child was born, the social worker began proceedings for it to be taken into care. The judge severely criticised the actions of the social worker before the birth. The local authority now appealed against an order at the conclusion of care proceedings that they should pay each parent damages in the sum … Continue reading In re V (a Child) (Care: pre-birth actions): CA 12 Oct 2004
A Children and Family reporter became concerned at the possibility of abuse of children as a result of information gained whilst involved in private law proceedings. He sought to report those concerns to the statutory authorities. It had become clear that it was crucially important that professions within the child care professions must communicate properly … Continue reading In re M (a Child) (Disclosure: Children and Family Reporter): CA 31 Jul 2002
It should be routine that, when presenting a case before a court to apply for a care order, the applicant authority should provide a written statement of the reasons, upon which it argued that the threshold conditions had been met. That statement should be based upon the evidence available at the time the decision to … Continue reading In Re G (Children) (Care Order: Evidence of Threshold Conditions): CA 5 Jul 2001
The one month old baby had been taken into the care of the local authority. The authority appealed the extent of contact with the baby. Held: The appeal failed. It was not wholly improper to allow for the practicalities of arranging such contact, including the financial resources available to meet them. The order was to … Continue reading In re S (a child) (Care proceedings: Contact): FD 5 Jul 2005
Acquisition of Habitual Residence Habitual residence can in principle be lost and another habitual residence acquired on the same day. Held: The provisions giving the courts of a member state jurisdiction also apply where there is an alternative jurisdiction in a non-member state such as the United States. The Regulation also deals with how child … Continue reading A v A and another (Children) (Children: Habitual Residence) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre intervening): SC 9 Sep 2013
The deceased had suffered a head injury whilst working for the defendant. In addition to severe physical consequences he suffered post-traumatic stress, became more and more depressed, and then committed suicide six years later. The claimant appealed against refusal of an award under the 1976 Act. The judge had decided that it was not part … Continue reading Corr v IBC Vehicles Ltd: CA 31 Mar 2006
‘The principal issue arising on this appeal in care proceedings concerning a little girl, L, is whether the process by which the recorder reached the conclusion that the threshold criteria under s.31 of the Children Act 1989 were satisfied was fair. The appellant, Z, who is L’s father, contends that certain of the findings made … Continue reading Re L (Fact-Finding Hearing: Fairness): CA 17 Feb 2022
A local authority, having once decided that a child was in need of welfare assistance, could not withdraw that, after the mother refused assistance to return to her own country, where the child’s long terms interests could properly be served by such assistance. Citations: Times 31-Dec-1998, Gazette 13-Jan-1999 Statutes: Children Act 1989 Part III Children, … Continue reading Regina v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council ex parte Damoah: QBD 31 Dec 1998
Prior leave applications for contact etc on applications to the court by children should be made to High Court. Citations: Gazette 31-Mar-1993 Statutes: Children Act 1989 10 Children Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.84960
Section 31 and its associated emergency and interim provisions comprise the only court mechanism available to a local authority to protect a child from risk. The interpretation of the ‘attributable’ condition adopted by the House of Lords is necessary to avoid the unacceptable consequence that, if the court cannot identify which of a child’s carers … Continue reading Re B (minors) (Care proceedings: practice): FD 1999
Guidance on findings in respect of threshold criteria Judges: McFarlane, Lindblom LJJ Citations: [2018] WLR(D) 370, [2018] EWCA Civ 1282, [2018] 4 WLR 143, [2018] 3 FCR 186 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 26 March 2022; Ref: scu.617327
In Smith, the lender instructed a valuer who knew that the buyer and mortgagee were likely to rely on his valuation alone. The valuer said his terms excluded responsibility. The mortgagor had paid an inspection fee to the building society and received a copy of the report, and relying on it, had bought the house. … Continue reading Smith v Eric S Bush, a firm etc: HL 20 Apr 1989
The court considered whether it had the power to make an open ended passport order. Judges: Sir James Munby P FD, Black LJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 69, [2017] WLR(D) 102 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 31 January 2022; Ref: scu.575336
Care proceedings Mr Justice Keehan [2019] EWHC 2369 (Fam), [2019] 1 WLR 6749, [2019] WLR(D) 537, [2019] 3 FCR 742 Bailii, WLRD Children Act 1989 31(2) England and Wales Children Updated: 05 January 2022; Ref: scu.648664
‘Since 1 December 2013 and by section 4(1) CA 1989 as inserted by section 111 Adoption and Children Act 2002, an unmarried father acquires parental responsibility by the inclusion of his name on the child’s birth certificate. That legislative change accompanied society’s recognition of and expectations for the exercise of parental responsibility by parents who … Continue reading Re M (A Child) sub nom PM v MB and M (a child): CA 31 Jul 2013
The court considered whether discriminatory acts after the termination of employment were caught by the respective anti-discrimination Acts. The acts included a failure to give proper references. They pursued claims on the basis of victimisation after their primary discrimination claims. Held: The 1975 and 1976 Acts were similarly phrased and the wording in the 1995 … Continue reading Relaxion Group plc v Rhys-Harper; D’Souza v London Borough of Lambeth; Jones v 3M Healthcare Limited and three other actions: HL 19 Jun 2003
The court considered the approach to be taken when considering whether to order a child’s attendance at court in care proceedings. It was argued that the starting point of assuming that a child should not attend, failed to respect the human right to a fair trial of all concerned. Held: The existing law erects a … Continue reading In re W (Children) (Family proceedings: Evidence) (Abuse: Oral Evidence): SC 3 Mar 2010
The parties had been a lesbian couple each with children. Each now was in a new relationship. One registered the two daughters of the other at a school now local to her but without first consulting the birth mother, who then applied for residence and or contact. The other mother took the children secretly to … Continue reading In Re G (A Minor) (Interim Care Order: Residential Assessment); G (Children), In Re (Residence: Same Sex Partner): HL 26 Jul 2006
Bingham LJ discussed the nature of frustration of contract: ‘The essence of frustration is that it is caused by some unforeseen supervening event over which the parties to the contract have no control and for which they are therefore not responsible. To say that the supervening event occurs without the default or blame or responsibility … Continue reading Lauritzen A/A v Wijsmuller BV;( ‘The Super Servant Two’): CA 12 Oct 1989
When a court considered which of two parents might be responsible for a non-accidental injury to their child, what the court cannot do is decide that one parent is the perpetrator but that the other parent cannot be excluded as the perpetrator. Counsel had not brought to the attention of the court when applying for … Continue reading ZM v JM; Re M (children) (fact-finding hearing: burden of proof); In re M (a Child) (Non-accidental injury: Burden of proof): CA 19 Nov 2008
Balance of probabilities remains standard of proof There had been cross allegations of abuse within the family, and concerns by the authorities for the children. The judge had been unable to decide whether the child had been shown to be ‘likely to suffer significant harm’ as a consequence. Having found some evidence to suggest that … Continue reading In re B (Children) (Care Proceedings: Standard of Proof) (CAFCASS intervening): HL 11 Jun 2008
A child was found to have bruising consistent with physical abuse. Either or both parents might have caused it, but the judge felt it likely that only one had, that he was unable to decide which, and that they were not so serious that he had to say that the other must have known. Held: … Continue reading In re S-B (Children) (Care proceedings: Standard of proof): SC 14 Dec 2009
An undisclosed principal will not be permitted to claim to be party to a contract if this is contrary to the terms of the contract itself. Thus the provision in the standard form B contract of the London Metal Exchange ‘this contract is made between ourselves and yourselves as principals, we alone being liable to … Continue reading JH Rayner (Mincing Lane) Ltd v Department of Trade and Industry: HL 1989
Where a patient lacks capacity, there is the power to provide him with whatever treatment or care is necessary in his own best interests. Medical treatment can be undertaken in an emergency even if, through a lack of capacity, no consent had been . .
An application was made for a wardship after allegations of child abuse.
Held: The test for evidence of child abuse which is appropriate is the ordinary civil standard of balance of probabilities as applied to the facts of each case.
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
Reasons for refusal of appeal in care proceedings Judges: Lord Justice Thorpe and Lord Justice Wall Citations: [2008] EWCA Civ 3 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children, Local Government Updated: 24 November 2022; Ref: scu.263768
A court had made an order freeing three siblings for adoption together. The parents accepted that this was inevitable for the two older but not for the third, who was a few months old. An emergency protection order had been obtained on the birth of the last child. The mother suffered depression which was likely … Continue reading C (Minors): CA 19 Dec 1997
B had been taken from her parents at birth, the local authority anticipating a risk of harm. The mother had suffered violence at the hands of the father, and also had convictions for dishonesty and making false allegations. The judge had made a care order in relation to B on the basis of a care … Continue reading In re B (A Child): CA 14 Nov 2012
A County Court does not have a power to accept a mother’s undertaking when making a supervision order. Citations: Times 12-Jan-1996, Ind Summary 08-Jan-1996 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 27 October 2022; Ref: scu.85720
Justices do not have the power to make an interim care order pending a later hearing on the extension of an existing supervision order. Citations: Times 11-Nov-1994, [1995] 1 FLR 335 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Applied – T (A Child) v Wakefield Metropolitan District Council CA 19-Mar-2008 A … Continue reading In Re A (A Minor) (Supervision Order: Extension): CA 11 Nov 1994
After the Judge finds s31 to be satisfied he cannot then add conditions to the residence order. Citations: Ind Summary 23-May-1994, Gazette 01-Jun-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.85888
A judge has no power to attach conditions with regard to the setting or residence on a s31 order. Citations: Times 05-May-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.82221
A child had died. The father was accused and acquitted of murder by way of shaken baby syndrome. The local authority persisted with an application for care orders for the other children. Held: ‘I do not claim to have divined truth. I have reached conclusions based on what I believe to have been proved to … Continue reading A Local Authority v S and W and T By her Guardian: FD 27 May 2004
Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss P said that in abuse cases, evidence: ‘cannot be evaluated in separate compartments. A judge in these difficult cases has to have regard to the relevance of each piece of evidence to other evidence and to exercise an overview of the totality of the evidence in order to come to the conclusion … Continue reading In In Re T (Abuse: Standard of Proof): CA 19 May 2004
The child was taken to hospital with injuries which the doctors concluded were non-accidental. The identity of the abuser was in doubt. Held: The court set out to identify the procedures in cases involving suspected non-accidental injuries where there was insufficient identification of the abuser. There are two parts to the threshold test, the harm … Continue reading North Yorkshire County Council v SA and others: CA 1 Jul 2003
The court considered the duties of disclosure in applications for care orders. Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P Citations: [2010] EWHC 2528 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(3) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 25 August 2022; Ref: scu.425316
Where a child had returned to a district, and both parents and foster parents had also left the area, it was unrealistic to lay responsibility for the child’s care at the former authority, and the proper responsible authority was that within which the child now resided. Citations: Times 01-Jun-1999, Gazette 27-Jun-1999 Statutes: Children Act 1989 … Continue reading North Yorkshire County Council v Wiltshire County Council: FD 1 Jun 1999
The applicants, grandparents, sought leave to appeal against a care order and placement for adoption. The child’s parents would be unable to provide care. The grandmother siffered tinnitus and reduced vision. Held: No error of law had been shown, and leave was refused. Judges: Wall LJ Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 376 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children … Continue reading In re P (A Child), Re; CS and WS v A Local Authority: CA 8 May 2009
A supervision order had been made for twelve months. There was a concern at contact with the mother’s mother’s partner. The father appealed refusal of an order extending the period to three years. Held: Such an order was permissible. Judges: Lord Justice Thorpe, Lady Justice Arden and Lord Justice Hughes Citations: [2008] EWCA Civ 199, … Continue reading T (A Child) v Wakefield Metropolitan District Council: CA 19 Mar 2008
Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 1265 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 12 July 2022; Ref: scu.261633
Parents of a child had resisted care proceedings, and now wished the BBC to be able to make a TV programme about their case. They applied to the court for the judgment to be released. Applications were also made to have a police officer’s and medical staffs’ and social workers’ names to be excised. Held: … Continue reading British Broadcasting Corporation v CAFCASS Legal and others: FD 30 Mar 2007
Appeal against care order. Citations: [2006] EWCA Civ 1864 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 09 July 2022; Ref: scu.249111
The date for consideration of whether the first or second threshold criteria had been met for care was when application made, or if continuous temporary arrangements for care made, from the date those arrangements were installed. Consistency between limbs was required. Citations: Gazette 26-Aug-1998, Times 29-Jul-1998, Gazette 16-Sep-1998 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2)(a) Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Southwark London Borough Council v B and Others: FD 29 Jul 1998
Justices were to explain their findings of fact behind finding that the section 31 threshold had been reached. Citations: Ind Summary 07-Aug-1995 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 09 July 2022; Ref: scu.85735
An order was sought in care proceedings with regard to a child of a family where the father was a member of the administrative and diplomatic staff of a diplomatic mission. Held: Where a child was present in the UK at the time of the application, an English court had jurisdiction. Such a worker was … Continue reading In re B (A child) (Care proceedings: Diplomatic Immunity): FD 30 Jul 2002
The claimant complained that at the time of the application for the interim care order, the authority had not prepared a care plan. Held: There was no guidance or practice direction requiring a care plan to be filed with the application. Citations: [2005] EWHC 970 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Children Updated: … Continue reading Westminster City Council v RA and others: FD 26 May 2005
A five week old baby had been brought into hospital with cranial pressure. At first signs of injury were not seen. It was concluded that the child may have been shaken, and the child protection procedures began. No criminal proceedings were to take place, and no interim care order had been necessary. The local authority … Continue reading A Local Authority v A and D: FD 5 Dec 2001
Care proceedings were commenced for one child after the death of a sibling, but without evidence as to which carer was responsible. Held: It had not been established upon a balance of probabilities that any one or more of the injuries were caused by either the mother or father. The mother must be treated as … Continue reading Re O and N (Care: preliminary hearing): CA 2002
A seven month old child had been injured, but it was not possible to establish whether this had taken place whilst with her parents or with a child minder. The Council brought care proceedings also for the minder’s own child B. Held: Even though the parents could not be held responsible, the threshold conditions which … Continue reading Lancashire County Council and Another v B and Others; Lancashire County Council v A: HL 16 Mar 2000
The court rejected an argument that ‘likely to suffer significant harm’ in the subsection was to be equated with ‘on the balance of probabilities’. Citations: [1993] 1 FLR 28 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2)(a) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Applied – In re A (A Minor) (Care Proceedings) FD 2-Jan-1993 It was again argued … Continue reading Newham London Borough Council v Attorney-General: CA 1993
Hale LJ said that ‘a comparatively small risk of really serious harm can justify action, while even the virtual certainty of slight harm might not’. Judges: Hale LJ Citations: [2001] 1 FLR 611 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Plymouth City Council v HM Coroner for the County … Continue reading Re C and B (Care Order: Future Harm): CA 2001
In a situation where an application is made for a care order, and the threshold criteria are met, but the court cannot decide which carer is responsible, the preferable interpretation is that in such cases the court is able to proceed at the welfare stage on the footing that each of the possible perpetrators is … Continue reading Re G (Care proceedings: split trials): CA 2001
The threshold conditions for the making of a care order, relate to the absence of proper care of a child, and the suffering of significant harm whilst in care arrangements then prevailing. There was no requirement on the court that it be able to apportion any direct responsibility for that harm to any individual person. … Continue reading Re B and W (Minors), Lancashire County Council and Another v B and Others: CA 27 Jul 1999
Where a supervision order was sought by local authority in respect of allegations made which were awaiting trial, and an order could be made before the criminal findings where enough was admitted by the carer to support the need for a supervision order. Citations: Gazette 01-Jul-1998 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Re B (Threshold Criteria): CA 9 Jun 1998
Where a child coming into care had had connection with two local authorities beforehand, the primary statutory responsibility for care would be determined by assessing which was the authority with a connection to the child immediately before the period to be disregarded under the Act for any temporary placement. The court reaffirmed the simple test … Continue reading Plymouth City Council v C and Another: CA 21 Mar 2000
When two local authorities were competing not to be responsible for the costs of a child committed to care, and the child had proper connections with both areas, the issue was to be decided by asking first whether the child had in fact any ‘ordinary residence’ as such, which would settle the issue in almost … Continue reading Northamptonshire County Council v Islington London Borough Council: CA 21 Jul 1999
The court considered the standard of evidence required to satisfy the threshold condition under the Act: ‘The inescapable construction of section 31, in my judgment, is that the court has to be satisfied by evidence that the significant harm suffered by the child is attributable to the care, or absence of care, given to the … Continue reading In re G (A Minor)(Care Order: Threshold Conditions): FD 1995
The justices had found that a child was likely to suffer significant harm on the basis that there was evidence of such harm as the court should take into account in considering the child’s future. Held: The finding was upheld. Booth J discussed the definition of ‘significant harm’: ‘Significant harm was defined by Miss Black, … Continue reading Humberside County Council v B: 1993
The 11 year old child had been subject to non-accidental injury. The perpetrator could not be identified form among those who had care of him. The Family Court had held the first part of a split trial. The judge had been unable to exclude the immediate family and carers from the pool of possible perpetratrors. … Continue reading In re A (a Child) (Care proceedings: Non-accidental injury): CA 1 Jul 2003
There had been an arrangement for a split hearing of an application for a care order. At the first hearing a statement had been agreed as to the terms upon which the threshold criteria had been met. However the expert could not base his decision upon that agreed statement, and the authority applied to re-open … Continue reading In Re D (Child: Threshold Criteria): CA 13 Oct 2000
An allegation had been made by a daughter of sexual abuse against her step-father. Despite his acquittal, the local authority went ahead with an application for a care order. The authority now appealed against a finding that it had not established a risk to the children to a sufficient standard. Held: The appeal failed. The … Continue reading In re H and R (Minors): CA 1994
For an order to be made, the child was to be continuing to suffer harm at the hearing date and the harm should resultant from the alleged lack of care. Citations: Ind Summary 08-Nov-1993 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 28 April 2022; Ref: scu.85819
In a ‘split trial’ procedure under the Act, it was wrong to bring in rules from criminal procedures. A witness who was competent was also compellable. Dicta in In re B were made without reference to section 98. Judges: Hale, Thorpe LJJ Citations: Times 18-Apr-2003 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 98 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading In re Y and K (Minors) (Split hearing: Evidence): CA 7 Apr 2003
Justices have no power to stay a care order pending an appeal. An application for leave to apply should be made direct to the divisional court. Citations: Gazette 03-Jun-1992 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Children, Magistrates Updated: 08 April 2022; Ref: scu.82080
A care order should be made only when the risk of harm to a child was proved by actual facts and not just by suspicion. Citations: Times 15-Dec-1995 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 08 April 2022; Ref: scu.82035
‘Ordinarily’ resident to be read into section determining Local Authority’s responsibility. Citations: Times 19-Mar-1996 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(8)(a) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 08 April 2022; Ref: scu.80766
Judges: Moor J Citations: [2017] EWFC 12 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 24 March 2022; Ref: scu.582021
B had been removed into care at birth. The parents now appealed against a care order made with a view to B’s adoption. The Court was asked as to the situation where the risks were necessarily only anticipated, and as to appeals against a finding of fact. Held: (Lady Hale dissenting) The appeal was dismissed. … Continue reading Re B (A Child) (Care Proceedings: Threshold Criteria): SC 12 Jun 2013
The Honourable Mrs Justice Lieven [2019] EWHC 1782 (Fam) Bailii Children Act 1989 31 England and Wales Children Updated: 30 December 2021; Ref: scu.639740
Application by the Local Authority for the making of a Care Order pursuant to s.31(1) Children Act 1989 in respect of ‘C’, Rawkins HHJ [2014] EWFC B159 Bailii Children Act 1989 31(1) England and Wales Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540381
It was again argued that ‘likely’ meant more probable than not. Held: The argument was not open to the appellants in the light of Newham London Borough Council. Thorpe J [1993] 1 FLR 824 Children Act 1989 31(2)(a) England and Wales Citing: Applied – Newham London Borough Council v Attorney-General CA 1993 The court rejected … Continue reading In re A (A Minor) (Care Proceedings): FD 2 Jan 1993