Gagging Orders in Secret Family Courts

Dear Mrs Docherty

Request for Information (Reference 09/FOI/1683)

Thank you for your request for information for gagging orders in secret
family courts, received on 13 October 2009..

Gloucestershire County Council is committed to the principles of the
Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) and will wherever possible provide all
the information requested unless constrained by another statute or by an
exemption within the FoIA. Please note that some information you have
requested may not be provided to you; this will only be information that
can be withheld by law. In most cases the reasons will be explained to you
along with your copy of any information that can be released to you.

Your request is being considered and you will receive a response as soon
as possible and within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, as
defined by the FoIA; that date is 10 November 2009.

We may need to contact you if the request needs to be clarified; this is
to ensure that we provide you with the information you require.

If the information you have requested is held by another public authority
we will transfer the request to them. If you have any objections to this
approach please contact us as soon as possible so we know not to transfer
the request and we will provide you with the relevant contact details
instead.

Yours sincerely

Sue Morris

Information Management Service Administrator

Information Management Service

Gloucestershire County Council

Community & Adult Care Directorate

Shire Hall

Gloucester

GL1 2TG

Tel: 01452 426837

Email: [1][email address]

Go to [2]www.gloucestershire.gov.uk to find information on any County
Council service. It couldn't be easier to find information instantly and
in some cases apply for services on line.

For Freedom of Information (FOI) requests please email
[3][Gloucestershire County Council request email]

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Dear Mrs Docherty,
Thank you for your email. I have been coordinating a response to the FoI
request it contained. The response I have received from colleagues in
Legal Services is set out below.

The only cases we have ever applied for gagging orders on are against the
press to prevent the press (not individuals) reporting names etc of
children or parties that could identify them and cause them harm. Parents
could still go to the press whenever they want as long as the press are
not printing specific details about cases. Therefore answers to the
questions set out are

(a) How many individuals have been taken to court by your authority
in-order to gag them. To stop them from speaking out about the
injustices they have suffered at the hands of the council
children's social services and secret family courts. Provide all
records to-date that are held.

None as far as I know and family courts are no longer secret, members of
accredited press can attend and report but rules are strict.

(b) How much did these gagging order injunctions cost the rate
payer.

I do not think that there have been any and therefore no costs

(c) Who is responsible for actioning these enforcement orders by
the council, i.e. who signs the applications for court.

N/a
(d) How many parents /relatives/individuals have received further
sanctions for breaking these gagging orders.

None

(e) Are any of these decisions to gag/sanction taken by unelected
local authority officers responsible for children’s social care,
finance, legal or any other relevant department.

N/a

(f) If councillors make these decisions at which meeting(s) are
these discussed.

N/a

If you are unhappy with this response, you are entitled to request a
review of the decision by writing to:

Victoria Wathen
Information Manager.
Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2TG.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the Council.

The Information Commissioner can be contracted at:-

The Information Commissioner's Officer
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely
John
John James
Commissioning Manager ~ Data Management
Data Management Team
Commissioning Section
Children & Young People's Directorate
Information Management & Strategic Planning
Gloucestershire County Council
Quayside House Room 109
Shire Hall, Westgate Street
Gloucester GL1 2TP
( Tel: 01452 425329
2 Fax: 01452 426415
* email: [1]mailto:[email address]

Go to [2]www.gloucestershire.gov.uk to find information on any County
Council service. It could not be easier to find information instantly and
in some cases apply for services online.
P Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you
really need to.

John

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