This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Abuse of Power by Local Government'.

Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 02:32:16 +0000
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Abuse of Care Proceedings - Torturing parents and Children for profit.
From: LS Palmer <[cyfeiriad ebost]>
To: FOI requests at Government Office for the South East <[cyfeiriad ebost]>

Dear Government Office for the South East,

Considering there are laws such as:

Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 1 - Cruelty to
children.
Sexual Offences Act 2003 - Covering all inappropriate sexual
behaviour involving children.
Mental Capacity Act 2005 s44 Ill treatment / Wilful neglect

It can be demonstrated that an act of abuse or neglect towards a
child is a crime.

Where a 'Professional' working with children is accused of abuse of
a child that is not their own they are entitled to a Criminal trial
with evidence and the case has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt
to a Jury. The accused is considered innocent until proved guilty,
and are often saved a trial and just secretly struck off.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/07/19/exclusive-secret-list-of-rogue-social-workers-booted-for-crime-corruption-and-porn-78057-21531865/

Whereas when a Parent (professional or otherwise) is accused by a
Social Worker of risking the abuse or neglect of their own
child/ren,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1321167/Joyfully-kissing-beautiful-baby-boy--girl-branded-stupid-wife-mother.html

the child/ren are immediately removed from them to Foster carers
who are effectively strangers

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7582725/Social-workers-enthusiastic-removers-of-children.html

and for the next 40 weeks the parents have a trial in the Secret
family court

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-511604/The-shameful-secrecy-adoption-system.html

which is typically a series of 15 minute direction hearings every 8
weeks where all directions the parent requests are ignored and
everything the Local Authority request is Ordered,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/7896592/Its-time-to-bring-family-law-to-book.html

the case can be decided without any evidence, relying solely on the
hearsay of social workers

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/5743419/Is-the-state-guilty-of-child-kidnap.html

who receive bonuses for meeting permanency targets if they
permanently place children away from families,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584940/Cash-prize-for-council-that-hit-adoption-targets.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-511609/How-social-services-paid-bonuses-snatch-babies-adoption.html

and make a case against the parent for the children to be adopted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/6073914/Secret-agenda-to-score-adoptions.html

http://news.scotsman.com/news/100-babies-put-on-child.6678003.jp

and an 'expert' instructed and paid £10,000+ by the Social Workers
to report what they want and that the parent has not agreed to, nor
has the 'expert' ever seen the children and the parent together.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/01/05/birmingham-mp-john-hemming-blasts-power-crazed-social-workers-97319-27935994/

all other witnesses are excluded from the proceedings, there is no
real avenue of redress or appeal,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/8165143/Forced-adoptions-get-no-sympathy-from-the-ministry.html

the case is decided on balance of probability therefore the parent
is considered guilty because the social worker is presumed to be
telling the truth

http://thismorning.itv.com/thismorning/wrongly-accused-abuse

evidence is suppressed, assessments are not carried out, the
parents and children go through a level of grief and distress
through their separation which is tantamount to torture, and their
emotional distress is used against them.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/8196452/Social-workers-cruel-game-with-children-in-care-continues.html

the most important bond in a child's life is damaged or destroyed;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1308117/I-stolen-mother-The-deeply-disturbing-truth-forced-adoption.html

the mother becomes socially labelled and a discretionary note is
placed on her enhanced criminal record stating that her children
were removed due to suspected abuse/neglect.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/8114956/Refugees-flee-the-tyranny-of-social-workers.html

The child is then made subject to increased risk of abuse and
neglect by strangers that are not biologically programmed to
protect the child.

Adopters prostitute the children.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1303930/Couple-took-cash-loaning-adopted-girls-paedophiles.html

Children are abused in children's homes

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/becks-appalling-crimes-just-the-tip-of-child-abuse-scandal-702598.html

to the point they commit suicide.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218214/First-picture-Neve-Lafferty-15-died-jumping-125ft-bridge-suicide-pact-14-year-old-girl-pupil.html

A disproportional number of children are dying in care.

http://www.thejournal.ie/22-children-have-died-while-under-state-care-since-march-report-2010-12/

Foster Carers are molesting children.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/gay-foster-couple-jailed-for-abusing-boys-in-their-care-405261.html

http://www.heraldscotland.com/foster-father-molested-girls-1.853962

http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/8637249.Harpenden_foster_dad_who_molested_two_brothers_escaped_jail/

Adoptive parents torture children.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8078203/Chemist-tortured-adopted-children.html

Children are left in uninhabitable accommodation.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/children-s-home-is-worst-in-country-1.1073097?localLinksEnabled=false

And those who survive fair worse than those who are not taken from
their families

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5417435/Children-brought-up-in-care-have-far-poorer-life-prospects.html

resulting in that child's children being removed from them when
they have any, as the child was not properly nurtured they are
deemed unable to care for children guaranteeing an endless supply
for babies and the money making cycle continues.

WHO PROFITS?

I refer you to the following link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12302629

This story relates to a regime of government child trafficking in
Spain involving snatching children from parents simply because they
have the wrong political views, or even any child because it was
realised the profits involved.

I now refer you to the various roles of Anthony Douglas in the
removal of children from their families:

1. He writes the law for the Judges to follow

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/01/21/107015/How-the-Public-Law-Outline-will-improve-case-management-and-care.htm

2. Anthony Douglas has been chief executive of Cafcass, the
specialist national agency representing children and families in
family. The Courts are obliged to follow the recommendations of
CAFCASS.

3. He was director of social services in the London borough of
Havering.

4. He was a social worker.

5. He is a visiting fellow of the University of East Anglia who
teach Social Work.

6. He is Chair of the British Association for Adoption and
Fostering (BAAF).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/summit/speaker-anthony-douglas

7. He writes the books that Social Workers study

http://www.tower.com/partnership-working-anthony-douglas-paperback/wapi/107878382

8. He has formed a partnership between Court Advisory Service who
are supposed to be independent and one of the largest adoption
agencies CORAM.

http://www.cafcass.gov.uk/news/2008/coram_partnership.aspx

I refer you also to MARGARET HODGE MP who in 2003 it was brought to
light that she was defaming survivors of sexual abuse in care homes
she was responsible for:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/victims-of-child-abuse-say-hodge-did-not-listen-to-paedophile-claims-by-senior-social-workers-735581.html

But after being heavily criticised in her role as Education
Minister

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2655127.stm

Her friend and neighbour Labour PM Tony Blair creates a new role
for her as Children's minister where she and Tony Blair's other
life long friend Lord Falconer fired the board of CAFCASS and
committed contempt of parliamentary privilege against whistle
blower Judy Weleminsky when dismissing her for exposing that
CAFCASS were running a business placing their corporate interests
first and neglecting the principles of public service.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmlcd/614/614w64.htm

Adoption and Child Protection Managers celebrate their gain on the
misery of the parent and children's loss as adoption targets of a
40% rise are met.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1468412/Children-are-taken-away-but-the-system-cant-admit-its-wrong.html

In 2006 the government index is introduced registering every child
whose records of every scratch, bruise or off day can be used as
grounds to take the child from their parents.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-403375/This-Government-index-child-Britain-risk-unless-parents-celebrities-politicians.html

A Child who had been severely neglected and abused under the
supervision of Islington Social Services while under Margaret
Hodge's supervision, married a man 17 years her senior to whom she
immediately had 4 children. 2 of which were severely abused by
someone who had befriended the young mother shortly after she left
her husband. The friend then killed the toddler. The toddler is
commonly known as Baby P.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206629/What-Baby-Ps-mother-Tracey-Connelly-wicked.html

In April 2010 the President of the Family Division LJ Wall declared
that Social Workers are behaving like something out of Stalin's
Russia or Mao's China, ruthlessly snatching children from loving
parents.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265416/Glimmer-hope-parents-court-halts-forced-adoption-18-month-old-daughter.html

In October 2010 In an Agreement between the President of Family law
and Anthony Douglas it is decided that children will get a CAFCASS
Social worker sooner and therefore the CAFCASS Social Worker's
voice/opinion will be heard rather than the child's and the Judge
won't have to make any decisions as he can simply follow the
recommendations of Cafcass.

http://www.cafcass.gov.uk/pdf/Joint%20Agreement%20October%202010.pdf

In November 2010, In Labour MP Margaret Hodge's new role as Chair
of Public Accounts Committee - the Watchdog of the Public Purse -
She declares that CAFCASS are struggling to cope with the fall out
of the death of Baby P because of the massive increase of cases,
thereby approving increased public funding for CAFCASS.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328434/Baby-P-scandal-Child-protection-body-fit-purpose.html

And so the industry grows.

WHO PROTECTS THE GOVERNED FROM GOVERNMENT ABUSE?

The Watchdogs - Parliamentary Ombudsman - Appeal Courts

In the last year 148 complaints regarding CAFCASS were referred to
Parliamentary Ombudsman - 1 was investigated but not upheld.

Numerous applications to appeal unjustified Court decisions to
follow CAFCASS recommendation to permanently remove children, are
made to the Court of Appeal - but permission to appeal is rarely
ever given.

The Family and Justice Council has been costing the public purse
approximately £300,000 per year and has been in existence since
2005.

Since the existence of the Family Justice Council the public now
pay double through the Legal Services Commission funding the
defence of applications to the family courts regarding children.
40% more children are being taken from families each year and
figures are rising.

The courts are struggling with all the applications:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/7931918/Family-court-system-could-implode-warns-its-top-judge.html

to the point that proposals are being made to do away with the
Courts from the child removing process altogether.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/05/01/111384/Opinion-split-on-need-for-magistrates-and-judges-to-be-involved-in-serious-case-review.htm

MY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

1. Please provide all recorded data and reports you hold that
justifies the permanent removal of children from families where ALL
the following apply:

a. No criminal conviction for abuse or neglect of children despite
abuse/neglect being a crime (due to lack of evidence).
b. No full assessment at a Residential Family Assessment Centre
despite this being declared an ECHR Art 6 right in Case Law.
c. No resolution to the parents complaints made immediately before
Care proceedings were issued due to the matter being in the Court
Arena.
d. No access to Local Government Ombudsman due to C above.
e. No access to a Jury or any other accountability in the Family
courts.
f. No assistance or support ever received from Social Services in
relation to their Duty under S17 of the Children Act.
g. No plan for rehabilitation despite this being recommended by the
Experts.
h. No access to their children to find out what their children are
really saying so they have to accept what CAFCASS is saying is true
even though it does not make any logical sense and contradicts
previous evidence in the case.
i. No mental illnesses/disabilities.
j. No record of any criminal behaviour.
k. No evidence of any significant harm to the children.
l. Refusal of investigation from GSCC and rejected CAFCASS
Complaints.
M. Refusal of all applications for permission to appeal
N. No right to speak publicly due to Media Injunctions and the
threat of imprisonment for contempt.
O. Refusal of assistance from their MP other than to sign PHSO
referral.
P. Refusal of investigation by Parliamentary Ombudsman.
q. No health problems of either parent or children.
r. No habitual drug use / drug addiction of illegal or prescribed
drugs.
s. Refusal of permission for Judicial Review.

2. What Safeguards are in place so that families described in 1.
above do not become victims of abuse of Care Proceedings resulting
in families having their children permanently removed?

3. How many cases have been brought to the attention of the
Government Office regarding abuse of care proceedings?

4. In relation to 3 above did you investigate any of the cases?

5. In relation to 4 above, If you did not investigate, what was
your reason for refusing to investigate?

6. In relation to 4 above, if you did investigate, which agency did
you find at fault and what laws/guidelines/codes were breached?

7. Do you have any information relating to when reform will be so
that care proceedings is about child protection of children who are
being harmed, rather than children who are 'adoptable'?

Yours faithfully,

LS Palmer

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