8 year old’s
emotional words after she was
taken in social
services blunder.
Essex Enquirer
Thursday 1 November 2007 EXCLUSIVE
By James Redgrave
Jamers@theenquirer.co.uk
“ I thought I would never see my parents again.”
An 8 year ld girl told teachers “ I thought I wouldn’t see my parents again”,
after a blunder by social services almost led to her being taken into care.
The youngster was taken from her school, after reports of abuse were made by a
gym employee at Next Generation Clubs( NGC) I Gidea Park, to Havering Council.
Social services also took the parents two sons-aged 2 and 3- and they were
forced to live with foster carers for 3 days.
The 3 children were then sent to live with their grandparents for a week- and
the mother was only allowed a one hour supervised visit, a day. However,
following an investigation, the children were returned to the parents. The
authority has since apologised to the family after admitting there were
‘discrepancies’ in the report from the gym.
The father, a 36 year old plumber from Hornchurch, accused the gym and the
council of ‘turning lives upside down’. “ We’ve done nothing wrong, but people
make their own minds up and think there’s no smoke without fire”, he told The
Enquirer.
“ Until it happens, you don’t realise how easy it is to have your children
taken away- even now we’re scared social services could come back.” And he
found his wife’s career had been damaged by the allegations. “ She’s an
auxiliary nurse and this investigation will stay on her record, even though
she was found innocent,” he added.
And in a school assignment last May, the daughter was asked to produce a first
person account describing ‘FEAR’. In it she wrote of “ terror, horror,
panting, heart pulsating, shaking and panting” when “ the door burst open” and
“ people took me away.”
Ruth Jenkins, Head of Children & Families Social Services at Havering Council,
wrote to the family and acknowledged ‘ the distress caused by the actions
taken’.
She added, “ you have clearly outlined the distress and stress caused you
personally and to your whole family and I am sorry for this”.
The father is demanding an apology from the gym, but instead has been
threatened with legal action for sending e-mails of complaint. Ian Harris, of
Howard Kennedy, wrote last July “ They ( NGC) do not wish to have any contact
from you…..They regard your contact as harassment….If you approach them again,
they would ask me to give serious consideration to an application for an
injunction against you.”
NGC Gidea Park manager, John Marnoch said, he did not believe the father
“needs an apology”.
An NGC spokesman said “ By raising our concerns about this child, we were
following our correct procedures in the interest of the child’s welfare….We
take this responsibility extremely seriously and welcome working with the
council to ensure our procedures and policies are adequate and appropriate.”
Havering Council declined to comment.
………………………………………………….END………………………………..
Comment: by Jack Frost Author of “The Gulag Of The Family Courts”….Book 1
I have spoken with the parents referred to above, in this case. There is more
to this case!
What is concerning, is that as parents, we are in the firing line for
malicious and false allegations, as we go about our daily lives; without an
iota of proof being required.
Neither is there any sanction on those who ‘set up’ innocent and vulnerable
parents. Those who make false allegations face no investigations or enquiries.
They can make as many false and malicious allegations as they wish, cause
absolute havoc, destroy families….And all the while social workers smile, take
the children away and say……….“ Go on….What are you going to do about it”.
Meanwhile, Gordon Brown and his Labour Party cronies, condemn the Burmese
Junta, President Putin of Russia and President Rober Mugabe,…… for Human
Rights Abuses……. Cherrie Blair waxes lyrical and visits Pakistan… ‘ to bring
Human Rights to the women who suffer abuse in that country’. …..But where are
the UK Human Rights, to an ordinary family life? And all the while the huge
festering scandal in the disreputable Family Courts, has encouraged those with
personality flaws and criminal intent, to develop careers and self importance
amongst other Guligans; assured that their conduct is concealed from legal
scrutiny, accountability and penalties.
