Asylum claim pending for runaway parents

"Natasha and Erik’s twins were taken away by Norway’s child protection service as soon as they were born. Now the family are fugitives in Poland, in a case that’s appalled psychologist Einar Salvesen."

By Einar Salvesen

"In early June, Natasha and Erik took their nine-month-old twins and went into hiding. They had been told that Norway’s Child Protection Service known as Barnevernet were planning to take their girls away for a second time..."

"At this time Natasha and Erik escaped to Poland with their children. I have been informed by the Polish embassy that there is huge support for them by the Polish people. We have received videos, photos as well as reports from various sources concerning the children who are developing normally and are well cared for by their parents."

"Experts, both Polish and Norwegian, will continue to monitor the children’s safety and document their development and wellbeing for all the authorities involved - both Polish and Norwegian."

"With their asylum claim pending, the fate of Natasha, Erik and the twins is yet to be determined."

"There is no doubt this case highlights the very worst that can happen with Barnevernet and the limited recourse parents have within the Norwegian court system. But this case has also received widespread media coverage raising greater awareness within Norwegian society."

"It has shown how the system is broken and the many flaws that stem from the psychopathic culture that lies within it. My question is, how can we overhaul this system and create a dialogue so we can act in the best interests of both the child and the family?"

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/article/2016/07/27/comment-very-worst-can-happen-child-protection

Transparency and Accountability Bill - second reading

John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD):

 

"There are greater tensions in today’s society. One of the failures of society rests in the tension between the Executive and the legislature... It tends to be very difficult to get anything out of the Executive."

"For example, in the Ashya King case, the father talked of himself as being a refugee from the UK because he was threatened with care proceedings, and we know that there was a wardship application against the family. It was clear that the hospital would have had an emergency protection order had they not left the country. When I raised that with the Prime Minister, he did not understand that I was asking Parliament to have a collective investigation into what is going on..."

"The context of the Bill is to improve transparency and accountability in the public sector, and within that I have included a number of different elements. With regard to the super-complaints proposal from Which?, the idea is basically to give a designated representative body the power to make a super-complaint to regulators of public services to address systemic issues. That sort of thing does go on. There can be difficulties within the health service. It is far better to enable challenge from outside the system. We saw with the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Care Quality Commission the tendency for even the regulators to cover things up."

"We have too many cover-ups in Britain, and the Bill seeks to reduce their number. ... Under the Enterprise Act 2002, designated representative bodies can make super-complaints to the Competition and Markets Authority about detrimental features of private markets. This power does not currently extend to markets for public services where detrimental features can also arise. We know all about that..."

"Public services are vital to millions of people across the UK, but people’s voices are not always heard when they experience a problem..."

"Another organisation that contributed to aspects of the Bill is the Campaign for Freedom of Information. This relates to closing a loophole in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 that allows contractors providing public services to escape scrutiny. They are not subject to FOI requests in their own right and so provide only the information that they are considered to hold on behalf of the authority..."

"As the director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, Maurice Frankel, said, each new outsourcing contract reduces the public’s access to information because of a loophole in the FOI Act. Information that is vital to the public may be kept secret simply because the contract doesn’t provide for access. The Bill would restore the public’s right to know.".. We need action from the Government, whoever is in government and at whatever stage, to deal with those exemptions, because what are clearly public functions are escaping accountability..."

Family court issues

"Earlier this week, a gentleman from German radio came to see me. He was concerned about the situation in Rotherham, which he had been investigating. Not only did the local authority take children into care, where they were found to be less well protected, but if they became pregnant it put them up for adoption on the basis that there was a future risk of emotional harm... At the moment, in essence, the only really effective audit on family court proceedings, particularly for public family law, is the example of international cases. The advantage of international cases is that two different jurisdictions are looking at the same case. Earlier I cited the King case, where the family went off to Spain and are now in the Czech Republic. Obviously that case was considered by the Spaniards. They were lucky because they managed to get their story out on YouTube and were not injuncted."

"There are similar cases. The Paccheri case is well known—it concerns the lady who was forced to

have a caesarean when she visited the UK whose child was then adopted. When we investigate the medical evidence put to the Court of Protection, we find, looking at the considerations by experts on the internet—that there was a good, detailed critique of the judgment, but it was published only because we found out about what had gone on; it was not published as part of an ordinary process..."

"Had detailed consideration been given to a second opinion in this case, it would have said, "Actually, this isn’t necessary." The traumatic way in which the lady was treated did not help her in the long term..."

"There are two types of international cases: those whereby people leave the UK to escape the system, and those whereby a foreign citizen’s case is decided on by the UK jurisdiction. The advantage of the Paccheri case is that the Rome family court gave a judgment that is publicly available and basically says that it does not understand what is going on in England..."

"We know what happens. The managerial priorities of local authorities determine what their staff do. If they do not do those things, we see what happens. There is the case of Joanna Quick, who wanted to recommend the return of a baby to its parents. She would not do what she was told by the management, so they fired her. One cannot blame social workers who are in that environment for doing what their management tell them to do..."

"(T)here are clearly cases when someone`s litigation capacity has been removed wrongfully. They are then stuck. They are a non-person as far as the system is concerned. If they want to appeal to the court, the application cannot be accepted because they have no capacity. People go down to the courts, but get turned away on that basis..."

"My view is that what we are doing is awful for children and families and, as time goes on. we are finding out more and more that that is the case. .."

"On the maltreatment of grandparents—I went to a Grandparents Plus event, and grandparents are not treated with respect by the system. There is evidence that each change of placement for a child taken into care, including the first change of placement, is psychologically damaging, but obviously at times we need to do that because leaving a child where it is can be worse—although the Rotherham case showed that at times that does more damage than in other circumstances. Going and staying with granny, however, is generally not that much of a problem because it is the sort of thing that has happened and the child is used to it. We should be a little more focused on families and the wider family—aunties, uncles and so on—than the current system, which is very much driven by the system. .."

Full transcript: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141017/debtext/141017-0002.htm#14101788000002  

Mother of three extradited to the US

"A mother of three who has been living openly in Britain for 16 years after fleeing an allegedly abusive husband has been extradited to the US on charges of kidnapping their children."

"Eileen Clark, a 57-year-old American citizen living near Oxford, was handed over to US marshals at Heathrow Airport on Thursday."

"Charged with international parental kidnapping even though her three grown-up children support her, Mrs Clark will face a courtroom confrontation with her husband."

"Her supporters say it is yet another example of how Britain’s Extradition Act is unfair and is being misused."

"Liberty, which has represented Mrs Clark, said an emergency injunction to halt her removal had been refused just hours before she was flown to the US on Thursday."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2681033/American-mother-lived-Britain-16-years-allegedly-fleeing-abusive-husband-extradited-US-charged-kidnapping-three-children.html#ixzz36fhwIttA

Mark and Kerry Mcdougall

Fife Council Social Services vs Mark and Kerry McDougall ..

Update: The video has been removed. I can only assume that the McDougalls have been warned by social services that by putting their case into the public arena it identifies their children and this will cause them significant harm.

With the threat of removing their children they will have no other option than to comply with whatever social services propose.

False allegations from Fife social services

Kerry and Mark McDougall talk to John Hemming in the video above.

Because Kerry was banned from marrying Mark and told that their baby would be removed at birth, they fled to Ireland. The reason given to them by social services was that Kerry had learning difficulties and had been in care herself and had had a bad experience. Mark explains that this sort of thing happens to many mothers and John Hemming agrees. "It is really about adoption."

When they arrived in Ireland, and after the baby was born, Ben was removed into foster care because the reports from Fife social services painted such a very poor picture of Mark and Kerry. In the reports that followed them to Ireland they were accused of being cocaine addicts and alcoholics. There were also allegations that they had picked up sexually transmitted diseases. In order to prove their innocence and to get Ben out of care they had to go for health checks to show that they had never had such diseases and also had to have drug tests. There were all kinds of tests undergone and these disproved the reports from Fife social services.

After four years in Ireland they returned to Scotland where eventually social services told them that they would leave them alone, but they didn`t.

John Hemming asks them if fleeing to Ireland had been the right thing to do.

Mark tells him that, had they not fled to Ireland, they would never have been able to get Ben back.
 

 

Fife Council Social Services vs Mark and Kerry McDougall ..

Update: The video has been removed. I can only assume that the McDougalls have been warned by social services that putting their case into the public arena identifies their children and this will cause them significant harm.

With the threat of removing their children they will have no other option than to comply with whatever social services propose.

See also: http://alicemooreuk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/false-allegations-from-fife-social.html

False allegations from Fife social services

Kerry and Mark McDougall talk to John Hemming in the video above.

Because Kerry was banned from marrying Mark and told that their baby would be removed at birth, they fled to Ireland. The reason given to them by social services was that Kerry had learning difficulties and had been in care herself and had had a bad experience. Mark explains that this sort of thing happens to many mothers and John Hemming agrees. "It is really about adoption."

When they arrived in Ireland, and after the baby was born, Ben was removed into foster care because the reports from Fife social services painted such a very poor picture of Mark and Kerry. In the reports that followed them to Ireland they were accused of being cocaine addicts and alcoholics. There were also allegations that they had picked up sexually transmitted diseases. In order to prove their innocence and to get Ben out of care they went for health checks and drug tests. The test results disproved the reports from Fife social services.

After four years in Ireland they returned to Scotland where eventually social services told them that they would leave them alone.

John Hemming asks them if fleeing to Ireland had been the right thing to do.

Mark tells him that, had they not fled to Ireland, they would never have been able to get Ben back.

See also: http://alicemooreuk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/mark-and-kerry-mcdougall.html

Teenager and baby are found

A baby said to have been taken by her mother during a supervised visit was found safe and well today, as four people were arrested in connection with her alleged kidnap.

Lola Page, 13 months, was found by detectives. The child’s mother Stacey Ball, 18, and a man were arrested. Ball is accused of kidnap, whilst the man is accused of assisting an offender. A short time later, officers visited an address in Walsall Wood where two men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap. All four were taken into custody and were being questioned today.

Police launched a major probe on Friday after Lola was put into a car during a supervised family visit at an address on Stroud Avenue, Willenhall. At the time of the disappearance, Lola was being cared for by a foster family in Walsall.

DCI Matt Markham from Force CID, said: "We are pleased to say that Lola is now returned to a place of safety and she is doing well. 

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2014/03/17/missing-mother-arrested-for-kidnap-as-baby-found-safe/

How did the Express and Star get the right to display the photographs of the child all over the newspapers?

Teenage mother absconds with baby

The family of a teenage mother who snatched her baby daughter from a foster family during a supervised visit have said her actions were an 'act of desperation'.

Police are searching for Stacey Ball, 18, after she bundled 13-month-old Lola Page into a car in Walsall, West Midlands.

But yesterday Miss Ball's father, Ryan Price, 46, said his daughter is simply 'screaming out for help' because she had been informed her daughter would be put up for adoption.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2582026/She-mother-screaming-help-Family-defend-teenager-Stacey-Ball-snatched-toddler-daughter-foster-family-vanished.html

Family lawyer criticises MP`s dangerous advice to parents

John Hemming MP  chair of the family justice group, has been branded as irresponsible by a family lawyer for advising parents to flee the country. His view is that the system is so stacked against parents that they stand little chance of keeping their children if they are suspected of child abuse. ‘All the cards are held by the local authority. It has large resources to fight the cases – it does all the assessments,' he said.  As reported in The Law Society Gazette, the chairman of the Law Society`s family law committee disagrees.

... Naomi Angell said recent changes to speed up care cases had shifted the balance against parents, but described Hemmings’ comments as ‘irresponsible and dangerous’.

‘Local authorities have a duty to, and society demands, that they protect children at risk,’ said Angell.

Joe Burns, commenting on the article had this to say: 

So let me summarise; Someone who makes their living from what many say is a corrupt and unjust system, believes that the Honourable John Hemming MP is giving "Dangerous Advice"?  First of all it's interesting to note, that much of the dysfunction, corruption and miscarriages of justice that have occurred in your workplace, were exposed by Mr Hemming himself. Such scandals as;

The Italian tourist about to leave the UK when she suffered a panic attack because she didn't take her medication for fear that she would harm her unborn baby. The UK had 3 months to send her back to Italy but chose instead to cut her open and remove the baby 6 weeks early. The incident sent shockwaves around the world.

Or the EDL mother who "may" (or may not) harm her baby with her political beliefs that she once held as a teenager and no longer holds, she had to flee to Ireland along with her husband, a serviceman in the military who was also deemed unfit to look after his daughter as he has served in Afghanistan.

Fran Lyon, who fled the UK after she received a letter from a social worker she had never met and who knew nothing about her, stating that her baby would be removed at birth and adopted, she fled to Ireland where social services had no issues and continues to live happily with her daughter.

Mark & Nicky Webster, whose child was misdiagnosed as abused and lost 3 children to forced adoption even though vindicated by the criminal courts. Even after the vindication, were pursued to Ireland where they had fled to keep their fourth child...

And the excuse for the growing industry is that more children are "Protected", in what way exactly?

- 50% of prostitutes have been in "Care"

 - 50% of Young Offenders have been in "Care"

- 80% of Big Issue sellers have been in "Care"

- 50% of girls in "Care" are mothers within 2 years if they don't already have children and are then 66 TIMES more likely to have their children removed and placed in "Care".

- A child in "Care" is 3 times more likely to die that children in the general population and 6 times more likely to be sexually assaulted. And these are just the official Government statistics.

You have to wonder how people can decry the sins of the past as seen in movies like "Oranges & Sunshine", "Philomena" and "Magdalene Laundries" when these injustices continue today on a far larger scale than occurred years ago. You also have to wonder how people in the future will view the corrupt, unjust courts of today. I believe John Hemming's legacy will be that he was right all along.

 http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice/family-lawyer-criticises-mps-dangerous-advice/5039374.article

MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING PANORAMA PROGRAMME HERE

Baby taken from couple who fled to France

Another couple flee to France only to have their baby taken away

By Christopher Booker

6:23PM GMT 09 Nov 2013

"Last year I reported the shocking story of Marie Black and Joe Ollis who escaped to France for the birth of their first child, after learning that Norfolk social workers intended to seize it at birth on the grounds that Marie had previously been in a violent relationship with another man, who was by then out of her life. The social workers tracked down the couple and, after baby Luna was born, returned, with the approval of a British judge, to deport the child to England."

"Fortunately, the couple had been put in touch with a robust British solicitor, Brendan Fleming, who took their case to the High Court. Here, a more senior judge ruled that, since Luna was born in France and was therefore, under an EU law called Brussels II, “habitually resident” there, the British authorities had no jurisdiction over her. He ordered the social workers to return the baby to her parents in France."

"Far from our social workers having learnt any lesson from this case, I have lately been following one which is almost a carbon copy. Another couple fearful that Bedfordshire social workers might seize their first child at birth, again on the grounds that the mother had previously been in an abusive relationship, set off to start a new life in France. A few days ago their baby was born in a French hospital, by caesarean section, and given a French birth certificate. The next day, the mother returned from a shower, covered only in a bath towel, to find her room filled with 10 French policemen and her baby gone."

"The policemen were holding a piece of paper indicating that they had been sent by Interpol, at the instigation of the British authorities, to remove the child on the grounds that the mother was a dangerous woman who might harm her baby. The couple were shocked to see that much of the description of her was factually wrong. It was also clear that they could only have been traced by someone hacking into emails they had sent since their arrival in France. The French social workers had removed the baby on “orders from Britain”, but could not otherwise have been more friendly, allowing the couple to see their baby, who had been taken to an orphanage an hour’s drive away. They were horrified to see their child lying in a room full of cots containing other babies."

"The mother had already been in touch with Marie Black and Brendan Fleming (although there is still no order from a British court to authorise all that has happened). When the couple appeared in a French court to contest the demand that their baby be deported, the judge was shown a statement citing the Marie Black judgment, making clear that, since Britain had no jurisdiction over the child, deporting her would be illegal. The judge, seemingly out of her depth, adjourned the case, suggesting that it should be heard by a more senior judge in three weeks’ time. We may hope that the new judge can recognise that the law is clear, and that the British authorities had no legal right to arrange what amounted to an act of kidnapping. Meanwhile, a note from Marie Black glowingly reports that 21-month-old Luna has just started attending a toddler group and that all is well."

"In due course, I hope to be able to report that this new case has come to a similarly happy ending. "

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/colu ... -away.html

Mark and Kerry McDougall return to Fife

　
From the Daily Record 17 November 2013

　
"A WOMAN who fled Scotland four years ago after social workers claimed she was not smart enough to be a mum has returned home – only to face losing her two little boys. Kerry McDougall, 21, – who has mild learning difficulties – hit the headlines after social work chiefs banned her from marrying fiancé Mark McDougall, saying she wasn’t intelligent enough to understand the vows."

"Fearing their unborn son would be taken into care, the couple fled to Ireland. They have since married and, having been judged suitable parents by social services, gone on to have another son, Lochlan, two."

"The couple desperately missed family and friends in Fife. Two weeks ago – having been told by Scots social workers that they no longer had any concerns – they came back. But last night the couple told how within days of returning two social workers visited them to say they are reopening proceedings to see if their sons should be put under a protection order. Kerry said: "I can’t bear the thought of my boys being taken away. It’s making me ill."

"Mark, 30, who within days found work as a night warehouseman, said he was further angered because social workers told him he couldn’t take up the position – because he must be at home with Kerry and his sons 24 hours a day. "As soon as we got to the UK, I went looking for a job, anything to bring some money in – we definitely don’t want to be claiming benefits," he said. "But I was then told by social services I can’t take it."

"Incredibly, they say this is because they worried how Kerry would cope at night while the boys were asleep. I pointed out that when we lived in Ireland I was working every day in a hotel while Kerry was a full-time mum at home and we were all fine. "But although Kerry’s gran, aunts and uncles are also all on hand to help, they aren’t happy. They seem determined to ruin our lives."

"Dougie Dunlop, Fife Council’s head of children and families and criminal justice, said: "As with any family moving back to Fife, we will continue to meet with Kerry and Mark to discuss their circumstances so they receive the care and support they need."