COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION)
ON APPEAL FROM
Milton Keynes County Court
His Honour Judge John Altman
MK05C01258
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD JUSTICE KEENE
and
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE HEDLEY
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D |
Appellant |
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- and - |
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Buckinghamshire County Council |
Respondent |
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Mr Justin Ageros for the Respondent
Hearing dates: 14th and 15th October 2008
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Crown Copyright ©
The Hon. Mr. Justice Hedley:
INTRODUCTION
THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK
HOW THIS CASE CAME ABOUT
THE PROGRESS OF PROCEEDINGS 2005-6
THE JUDGMENT OF 10th JANUARY 2007
Buckinghamshire County Council Children Services have been found by the Court to have had a reasonable belief in the truth of the following relevant matters (and so a reasonable belief that 'D'; (a) poses a risk to any child or young person in his care or company in particular 'J' and (b) is not an appropriate person to have care of children or young people). The Court made no finding one way or the other as to the truth of these matters unless expressly stated in this document by the square bracketed references in italics.
It is then divided into two parts. One is headed "Relevant Matters" and sets out the findings making clear the distinction between facts found by the court and matters reasonably believed by the local authority. The other is headed "Chronology" and sets matters out in chronological order with 'D''s responses noted thereon.
SHOULD THE JUDGE HAVE FOUND FACTS AT ALL?
SHOULD THE JUDGE HAVE AUTHORISED DISCLOSURE OF HIS FINDINGS?
"Application here of domestic law on disclosure
[61] I need not go through the ten considerations referred to by Swinton Thomas LJ at 722(sic) of Re EC (Disclosure of Material) [1996] 2 FLR 725, since the parties are agreed that the main competing factors here are as follows.
[62] In favour: subparas (2) 'The welfare and interests of other child generally' and (10) 'Any other material disclosure which has already taken place'.
[63] Against: subparas (3) 'The maintenance of confidentiality in children cases' and (4) 'The importance of encouraging frankness in children's cases'; plus the reference within subpara (9) to 'unfairness and oppression'.
[64] In addition there has to be 'real cogent evidence of a pressing need' for the requested disclosure.
[65] It emerges further from the above authorities that the court also has to consider in terms:
(i) the interests of the alleged paedophile and his family;
(ii) the likely impact which the disclosure might have on them in terms of vigilantism, gossip, employment difficulties and so on;
(iii) the risk of driving the paedophile 'underground', whereby he may become a greater risk to children;
(iv) the difficulties in controlling sensitive information once it has been released further than to 'the usual' statutory agencies; and
(v) all the other overall circumstances of the cases."
Although (as 'D' stresses) Bodey J was considering findings of fact which he himself has made, the law at present places no such restraint on findings that may be disclosed. Eastham J in R -v- DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL ex p L [1991] 2 FLR 541 had expressly accepted that disclosure might (and in that case should) be made on the basis of honest belief on reasonable grounds. That position was also recognised by Dyson J (as he then was) in R -v- LOCAL AUTHORITY & POLICE AUTHORITY IN THE MIDLANDS ex p LM [2000] 1 FLR 612. For my part I gratefully accept Bodey J's exposition of the law. The relevant parts of Re EC identified by him are relevant here too. I am satisfied that matters held on the basis of honest belief on reasonable grounds by those who have child protection responsibilities come within the potential ambit of disclosure orders. That said, I specifically acknowledge the need for there to be "real and cogent evidence of a pressing need" for the requested disclosure.
"In balancing adequate protection for the child and fairness to an adult, the interests of an adult may have to be placed second to the needs of the child. All concerned in this difficult and delicate area should be allowed to perform their task without looking over their shoulder all the time for the possible intervention of the court."
That statement of principle in the first sentence is firmly established in domestic family law. It is in no way inconsistent with the developing European jurisprudence on Article 8. I venture to express the opinion also that it is wholly consistent with the intention of the legislature as appears from the survey of the statutory framework earlier in this judgment.
TO WHOM SHOULD DISCLOSURE BE MADE?
CONCLUSIONS
Lord Justice Keene:
Lord Justice Thorpe: