Dr Carlton Brand BA. MSc. EngD

Director of Resources

Mrs Docherty

[FOI #20812 email]

Fax: 01225 718399

Direct Line: 01225 713643

Operator: 0300 456 0100

E-mail: [email address]

Please ask for: Ms S Evans Our ref: RFI 1792 Your ref:

30 October 2009

County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8JN

Dear Mrs Docherty

Request for Information - RFI 1792 - Secret family courts

Thank you for your request for information received 14 October 2009.

As of 1^st April 2009 Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury and North Wiltshire District Councils and Wiltshire County Council ceased to exist and a unitary authority, Wiltshire Council, was created.

In response to your request for information:

1) The requestor asked how many individuals have been the subject of applications for injunctions to prevent them publicising information about actions taken by the Council's children's social services and the family courts.

The only applications made by this authority relating to publication of information relating to children's cases have been directed to the press/media prohibiting publication of information which may identify individual children; no applications have been made directly against individuals.

2) Cost - no applications in respect of cases against individuals.

3) Any applications which may be made to the court would be issued in the name of the Solicitor to the Council.

4) No parents/relatives/individuals received further sanctions for breach of an injunction.

5) Any decisions to issue proceedings of this nature would usually be made by the relevant Service Department.

6) Councillors would not normally make this decision.

The Council has not withheld any information in relation to this request under the exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I hope the information received is what you were expecting.  However if you are unhappy with what has been provided, you can raise a complaint under the Council's Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure (enclosed) or you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, 01625 545745. If you would like to discuss any of the information provided to you or would like further information on the complaints procedure, please contact me on the above number.

Information supplied under the Freedom of Information Act and/or Environmental Information Regulations will be subject to copyright protection under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Information can be re-used for the purposes of research for non-commercial purposes, for private study or for news reporting and reviews, without requiring formal consent. However, if you wish to re-use the information for commercial purposes, including publishing, you are required to seek the permission of the copyright owner. Permission to re-use Wiltshire Council's copyright information is granted in the form of a licence. Authorisation to re-use copyright material not owned by Wiltshire Council should be sought from the copyright holders concerned.

Yours sincerely

Sharron Evans

Principal Information Officer