Adoptions

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Putting our Rural Communities First - A Rural South Devon and Dartmoor Unitary Authority - a proposal for unitary local government in Devon that safeguards our rural communities. Find out more at our website, www.southhams.gov.uk, or contact the Boundary Committee with your views at [email address].

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Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act.

South Hams District Council has no responsibility for adoption and your
request should be forwarded to Devon County Council.

Regards
Ann Dagger
Senior Legal Secretary
South Hams District Council

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Dear Melizza Moore

Information Request 00422

I received your request on 22/06/2010 for information held by Devon County
Council about forced child adoptions.
You are entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to be informed
whether or not the information you have requested is held by Devon County
Council and if so to be given access to that information within 20 working
days (subject to any exemptions).

You should expect to receive a response to your request by 20/07/2010

Yours sincerely

Martin Lawrence
Corporate Information Governance Officer

Strategic Intelligence
Devon County Council
Room L10
County Hall
Exeter EX2 4QD
Tel: 01392 384674
Email: [email address]

Disclaimer: [1]http://www.devon.gov.uk/email.shtml
Applicable to private messages: "Devon County Council accepts no legal
responsibility for the contents of this message. The views expressed do
not reflect those of Devon County Council"

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Dear Melizza Moore

Information Request 00422

I am in receipt of your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act regarding forced adoption of children. I can confirm that
the Authority can only answer for children who were in the care of the
local authority in Devon before being adopted.

A child can only be adopted against parental consent and wishes when a
court has made a Placement Order under the Adoption & Children Act.
However Placement Orders may be granted in some cases when the parents
would have been prepared to agree. For example, if the child is on a Care
Order or there are current care proceedings then the local authority must
apply for a Placement Order if it believes the child should be placed for
adoption, whether or not the parents are in agreement. But generally the
making of a Placement Order is a pretty good indication that the parents
were not in agreement.

Ther have been 101 Devon children who have been adopted after a Placement
Order has been made, within the period 1st April 2006 to 31 March 2010.

I hope this information is of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely

Martin Lawrence
Corporate Information Governance Officer

Strategic Intelligence
Devon County Council
Room L10
County Hall
Exeter EX2 4QD
Tel: 01392 384674
Email: [email address]

Your right to complain
If for any reason you are not satisfied with how your request has been
handled, please write to Devon County Council's Freedom of Information
Office, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD or complete the on-line
complaint form that can be found at [1]www.devon.gov.uk. If your complaint
is not resolved to your complete satisfaction, you have the right to refer
the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

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Disclaimer: [2]http://www.devon.gov.uk/email.shtml
Applicable to private messages: "Devon County Council accepts no legal
responsibility for the contents of this message. The views expressed do
not reflect those of Devon County Council"

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