Disqualified from justice: Legal aid means test report

[Alison J Stevens]

http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/News/Stories/priced-out-of-justice-leg...

A recent case where a child was kept on a section 20 order,from birth to the age of 9 , highlights the flawed legal aid system,

16 Children from one Local Authority were left on section 20 orders for years.

Section 20 is Parents placing their Children into voluntary care, via Social Workers, placing Parents into duress and fear leaving them no choice but to sign the order..

Legal aid cannot be granted for a section 20 order, 

Parents that do not agree to sign such orders, are faced with having their children taken on a Emergency Protection order.

Legal aid can be granted at this time, or when they are sent a letter before proceeding , they are required to take this letter to a Children's panel Solicitor to get representation,

The LA, do not tell Parents that they do have 72 hours to try and get the order discharged.

LA breached Children's and Parental rights , as section 20 orders are only supposed to last a few weeks, while child protection investigations are taking place, then the LA, should make a quick decision whether to instigate Care Proceedings or take no action at all, leaving the children being returned to their parents.

With a child being left on a section 20 order for many years, the Parents would not being entitled to legal aid, thus they may not of been able to afford the huge legal bills, thus leaving the LA to breach their rights and keep the children in the care system illegally.

Parents would of had the right to collect their children from foster carers, and take them home, then the LA would of possibly got an Emergency Protection Order, giving the parents leeway to apply for legal aid.

It is not known in these cases if the Parents had any contact with their children.

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2018/10.ht

             NO LEGAL AID IS AVAILABLE FOR THESE TRAGIC CASES A TRAVESTY..OF JUSTICE.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/20/alfie-evans-parents...