Social workers found to have ‘altered report’ and ‘lied in Court’

A court has heard how senior social workers altered a report and lied under oath in order to create a “wholly negative” picture of a couple, in order to substantially improve the local authority’s case for removal of the children, probably permanently. Judge Mark Horton, sitting in Portsmouth, said the five children aged between one and 14 when they were removed from the care of their parents, had been removed illegally from the care of their parents, yet more than 2 years later he ruled that they should remain in foster care. The Judge found that Hampshire County Council had failed to disclose important information that would have been helpful to the parents’ case  and he took the unusual step of publicly criticising individual social workers.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire County Council admitted there were deficiencies in the way the case was handled and that subsequent action had been taken accordingly.

Counsel Susan Campbell QC leading Charlotte Street were instructed on behalf of the mother; and John Ker-Reid leading Corinne Iten were instructed on behalf of the father within the proceedings.

To read more about the case as reported in the press please click here, to view the judgment in full please click here.