In care proceedings, the court had allowed a social worker to give evidence in such a way that her identity was hidden. She was in fear of violence.
Held: It was possible for a civil court to provide anonymity. These public law proceedings could look for a parallel in criminal cases in the Taylor case. However this must be exceptional. The danger was real, but this is sadly a necessary part of every social worker’s professional life, as it was for others. The consequences to the parents were just as dire as would be a criminal conviction. Social workers must see this as a professional hazard, and the judge had been wrong to accede to the request.
Judges:
Thorpe, LJ Body J
Citations:
Times 01-Nov-2002, [2002] EWCA Civ 1626, [2003] 1 FLR 329, [2003] 1 FLR 329
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – British Broadcasting Company v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and X and Y FD 24-Nov-2005
Application was made by the claimant for orders discharging an order made in 1991 to protect the identity of children and social workers embroiled in allegations of satanic sex abuse. The defendant opposed disclosure of the names of two social . .
Cited – Norfolk County Council v Webster and others FD 1-Nov-2006
The claimants wished to claim that they were victims of a miscarriage of justice in the way the Council had dealt with care proceedings. They sought that the proceedings should be reported without the children being identified.
Held: A judge . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Children
Updated: 11 October 2022; Ref: scu.177837