What happens next?

Mushashi · **Joined:** Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:23 pm **Posts:** 4

Hi all

I am writing this hoping that some of you can help me with this. I am really worried about this.

I received a call from the social services telling me that they had received an anonymous report about one of the children. They refused to say which child or what about other than it was a serious allegation against me and that the police would be informed.

They also told me to have no contact with the children until it had been dealt with.

It goes without saying that I am guilty of nothing with regards to the children.

My question is what happens now? Are there any steps I should be taking?

tph · **Joined:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:57 am **Posts:** 1382

Mushashi. Your post is not very clear. Are these your children? On what basis do you have contact with them?

Mushashi · **Joined:** Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:23 pm **Posts:** 4

One of them is mine but I see them all.

SuntoryBoss · **Joined:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:59 am **Posts:** 672

When you say "a call" do you mean someone saying they were social services on the telephone, or someone coming round to your house in person?

That sounds rather odd to me. If it's a serious allegation surely the first you'd know of it would be the police turning up, not a warning call like that from social services.

This is not an area I know anything about, however, so maybe this is the norm.

Mushashi · **Joined:** Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:23 pm **Posts:** 4

It was social services and it was a call. I confirmed the name and number by calling back.

dls · **Joined:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:20 am **Posts:** 5780

Unless a court order was mentioned and you are served wit paperwork very quickly you are not strictly bound by the call, but it would be silly to go against it until you know a lot more.

You should take legal advice immediately.

Mushashi · **Joined:** Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:23 pm **Posts:** 4

I haven't been served any paperwork. Legal Advice at the moment is to wait and see if police get involved. If they do say nothing and call solicitor.

BUT if the police were going to be involved, wouldn't that have happened already? It's been a week now.

Mouse · **Joined:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:20 pm **Posts:** 258

No ifs no buts you must get legal advice now.

If you cannot afford it beg, borrow or steal[*] to pay the fees.

[*]Theft is illegal, by the way, and you should consider this not to be taken literally.

dls · **Joined:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:20 am **Posts:** 5780

One of the most miserable aspects of such situations is precisely that they are not resolved in one or two weeks, but can carry on for very many months with few visible signs of progress.

Mouse is right. You need a lawyer now.

Mouse · **Joined:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:20 pm **Posts:** 258

The worrying aspect of a question like this one ought to be obvious to anyone familiar with this site.

There is no way in the world you will get justice without paying out money.

Why? Well it isn't because lawyers are greedy (which they may or may not be). No, it is because as a so called "litigant in person" you will be invisible to social services.

Mouse · **Joined:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:20 pm **Posts:** 258

Assuming legal advice is not affordable to you (and even if it is), this is what you do:

You issue an application for a contact order in the county court. You do it tomorrow (Monday). You need to fill in a Form C100 and a form C2 and you take them both to the court with a fee of £175. If you are on low income you need to enquire about fees exemptions. On the form C2 you say that you have been denied contact with your children and you have not been told why and you want the court to list an hearing urgently.

It is unacceptable for social services not to give you information about why they separate you from your child.

zebedee · **Joined:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:17 pm **Posts:** 86

I agree with Mouse. Usually the allegations are rubbish and will be dealt with by social services without police involvement. Has someone got something against you? However, you need to verify what social services have told you and find out what they are up to. If you can afford a solicitor get one. He or she will know what to do. If the SS (because that is what they often are!) ask to come and see you make sure you have a friend present. They cannot refuse you and make sure you write down every single question they ask you as well as your own answer. Don't assume they are honest because they can come up with 'evidence' to suit their own agenda. If they don't give you any timeframe as to when you can see your child then, as Mouse says, start an Application for contact in the County Court. That way social services lose control as it will come under jurisdiction of the Court. Good luck.

Musashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:54 pm **Posts:** 4

UPDATE: I was arrested 3 weeks after the allegations were made. On the advise of my solicitor, I gave a full and frank interview. I was bailed to reappear at the a future date with ZERO bail conditions.

I have spoken with the SS and informed them to allow contact with my son or I would take them to court. The SS's tone of voice has completely changed from accusatory to gentle now. They then wanted contact to be supervised and I refused that and told them I would be seeing my son and if they objected to take their objections to a family court and get a court order. they backed down and allowed it.

Situation now is that I have contact with my son as before. I have zero contact my my son's siblings and i am waiting to reappear at the police station soon.

I will update you when I have more.

Musashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:54 pm **Posts:** 4

BTW Thank you for the help so far

SFspecialist · **Posted:** Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:37 pm

I will be interested to know what happens next, Keep us informed.

Best of luck
sfchildrenlaw

swarb.co.uk

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