| |
Keeping it confidential
• COUNCILLOR Catherine West is right to be worried that Islington Council may have breached its “duty of care to vulnerable children” following the discovery of confidential papers in a cabinet disposed of by its children’s services department (Security alert after kids’ papers dumped, August 14).
When children are in care or subject to care proceedings, their identity by law is protected. As an organisation advising parents of vulnerable children, we are always at pains to stress the importance of not identifying their children when they attempt to prevent their removal by the local authority within family court proceedings. We have been appalled at instances where confidential documents relating to court matters and identifying children have been sent by Islington Council to the wrong address.
If parents through their actions identify their children to the public – through the media or the internet, for instance – contempt of court provisions can result in their imprisonment yet council workers can through negligence or lack of care avoid even the mildest of reprimand. A level playing field seems to be in order here.
TRVOR JONES
National co-ordinator, Parents Against Injustice
Hanley Road, N4
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
