Case Law Update 16 – O v Peterborough – Child protection decisions must be supported by proper evidence; The meaning of ‘neglect’

This is part of our case law series reviewing judgements relating to the implementation of the Children and Families Act 2014.

Each review looks at a specific case and explains the potential implications for parents, local authorities and sector practitioners. The reviews have been produced for us by Barrister Steve Broach.

In this update the High Court quashed a local authority’s decision to place a child on a child protection plan because the local authority had failed to understand the concept of ‘neglect’, or alternatively the application of that concept in the case had been irrational.