Regina v Norfolk County Council, ex parte M: QBD 1989

The plaintiff worked as a plumber. His work took him to a private children’s home. An allegation of sexual abuse was made against him by a 13 year old child. She had made other claims against other men which had proved to be false. He was released by the police without charge. The local authority held a case conference and placed his name on the child abuse register. He then lost his job.
Held: The local authority had acted unreasonably. The case conference is not simply a private administrative act, and it must be subject to review, and must act fairly. The decision was quashed.

Citations:

[1989] 2 All ER 359, [1989] QB 619

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

AppliedAssociated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation CA 10-Nov-1947
Administrative Discretion to be Used Reasonably
The applicant challenged the manner of decision making as to the conditions which had been attached to its licence to open the cinema on Sundays. It had not been allowed to admit children under 15 years of age. The statute provided no appeal . .

Cited by:

CitedRegina v Chief Constable of North Wales Police and Others Ex Parte Thorpe and Another; Regina v Chief Constable for North Wales Police Area and others ex parte AB and CB CA 18-Mar-1998
Public Identification of Pedophiles by Police
AB and CB had been released from prison after serving sentences for sexual assaults on children. They were thought still to be dangerous. They moved about the country to escape identification, and came to be staying on a campsite. The police sought . .
CitedL, Regina (on the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Admn 19-Mar-2006
The court considered the duties on the respondent in providing an enhanced criminal record certificate. In one case, the claimant had brought up her son who was made subject to child protection procedures for neglect. Her job involved supervising . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Local Government

Updated: 25 November 2022; Ref: scu.193594