Former Liberal Democrat MP, and family justice campaigner John Hemming has called on the Family Court to make the ruling behind murdered toddler Elsie’s adoption, public.
Elsie, whose real name was Shayla, was killed by her adoptive father in May last year. Following a national outcry over the case, pressure has begun to mount on the judge, or judges, who pushed the adoption through.
Evidence has now emerged which confirms that Shayla suffered several serious injuries in the run up to her death. As a result of these injuries she was taken to hospital twice, over a nine month period, though it is not clear how child protection and medical professionals addressed these incidents.
Hemming, who campaigns for reforms within the UK child protection system, has demanded that the reasons for allowing the adoption be published. Talking to the Swindon Advertiser, John explained:
“A family court judge must have decided that Elsie could be placed for adoption in September 2015.
A family court judge, maybe the same judge, maybe a different judge, must have approved the adoption in May 2016.
There must have been hearings, evidence and rulings.
The name of the judge or judges involved and their rulings should be made public.
There are clearly questions which need to be answered given that Elsie suffered injuries in the nine months before her death.
What evidence did the judge who approved the adoption have? What evidence was not made available? What did social services staff know?
The priority is not to point the finger blame but to learn lessons and make sure other children are protected.”
What do you think?
Many thanks to Sabine for alerting us to this development.
Researching Reform 
“The priority is not to point the finger blame but to learn lessons and make sure other children are protected.”
Well done to John Hemming for pushing this. but i do feel strongly that pointing the finger of blame should always be a priority and those responsible for the failures be prosecuted. Social workers, judges LAs and others just dont seem to be held accountable for their failures in this country and thats a big problem when seeking Truth and Justice.
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Good to see that Mr. Hemming is still doing good work. I do hope he is successful in this campaign. And, yes, I too think that there should be blame and punishment, little Elsie paid for dreadful errors with her life. Any one who concealed the facts or let things go because of ‘political correctness’ or any other reason should be named and shamed, if only to discourage others from making the same mistakes
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Re. the long continuing brutality & eventual murder of little Elsie.
Though we have been told that the monster who committed these unspeakable acts was the adoptive ‘father’,
a vital part of this horrendous story is being kept from most reports..
He was one of a ‘same sex couple’. And the wee mite had been delivered into the hands of these perverts, to do what they willed with her. All those who ordered or carried out the delivery should be in prison alongside the actual killer! Norman Scarth.
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With all due respect to the commentators, this failure is systemic and not merely the fault of the individuals within it, if they object/do their job properly no one listens and they are replaced.
If we continue to blame individuals the real problem is never addressed.
And that is, that the establishment has put in place these policies producing a cabal of NHS, LA, Courts, Agencies,Lawyers Experts, Social Workers, all connected secretly in MASH, who act with one common purpose, to remove children from birth families, on purported, often incorrect minor safeguarding issues, often future ones,but do not investigate the care placement be it adoption, fostering, care home they are removed to.
And the goal is maximum private profit from child protection without accountability, that is why last year, LAs tried to pass law exempting themselves from liability for child protection.
If you read the facts of Baby P and Victoria Climbie here, you will see both carers, one a foster mum, the other a natural mum had been vetted and chosen to care by LA etc, and therefore all signs of torture and abuse were ignored/ not looked for until the children died, as with poor Elsie.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Baby_P
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Victoria_Climbi%C3%A9
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I respect this, but if I were in a position within social services to object on good grounds to an adoption, I would rather be fired than have a baby’s death on my conscience. Let’s hope the recent report, which indicates change from within the system, succeeds in having forced adoption outlawed. Individuals are at fault within the system if they want to save their own jobs rather than work for the good of the child. On the whole, it is individuals who change things; they/we must speak out and damn the consequences to ourselves.
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Sadly, in our now totalitarian UK, individuals with autonomy within organisations are no longer allowed to exist . They are forced to collaborate or starve . It is not just forced adoption that needs changing but forced into care, if not, this could just be yet another sinister move to increase care and fostering, obviously not by the petitioner who would be unaware of the possible consequences, Thank you for your reply, don’t think my comment is anything personal, but all those with conscience have left or been forced to comply Best Wishes Finola
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The general public are not interested in what social workers or judges do until it concerns their family. Then they wish they had taken note.
As regards this case it seems odd to me to know that after so many ‘accidents’ pre adoption that the adoption went ahead as planned. Were they on a treadmill that no one would step off and say this is not quite right, something is off with this plan?
Yes, the events of this case and others like it should be published in full.
I am of the opinion there should be a public register for all the decisions that family court Judges make and the outcomes and any changes made from the original judgement. This should be updated as and when changes are made, at least up to age 18 and beyond if child remains in the foster, guardians, adopters home. If injury, abuse or death occurs this should be investigated and findings published. The birth family should be informed immediately, as they are often the only ones who want to find out the truth of what happened to their child and a call to task those involved.
In my experience changes are often made from the original judgement but these are not recorded. It’s a shame changes were not made in Elsie’s case. Her grandmother should have been allowed to keep her within the family and the adoption should never have taken place. We all need to know why it did?
As regards forced adoption in general, I have read a lot of adoptive children’s views on adoption once they are adults and one thing is very common, they don’t feel complete, something is missing. They also felt they were there only to meet the need of the adopters, not for their benefit. I don’t believe the family court are unaware of how many adoptive children did not want to be adopted, but they had no choice and they certainly didn’t give their permission. It’s about time forced adoption is outlawed.
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Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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Reblogged this on Musings of a Penpusher and commented:
This must not happen again.
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Some years ago a couple had lost their 2 children to the forced adoption by SS, these parents were so distraught i invited them to have a weeks holiday at my home by the sea, during one conversation the mother told me she was put into foster care with 2 lesbians who fought every day and every day was constantly, at the age of 12 this child went to live with a friend as she said she could not stand the fighting of these 2 women who then gave her £10 a week to stay quite so they could still receive the carers allowance, but what was most upsetting was the fact she had no knowledge of lesbians or gays and was just put into a situation of not knowing, this had affected her for the rest of her life
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Children are not protected! They are not a priority! “Professionals” are out for making money! Corruption in the uk family court! It’s a fairer trail for murder and rape!
It’s all HEARSAY EVIDENCE used!
Greed is the route of all evil, authorities have Ultimate power! What they say goes!
There Never questioned! You don’t stand a chance! Another innocent child stolen and killed!
That’s child abuse!
Will the professional’s involved go to jail? I Doubt it!
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absolutely right. its a cartel.
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I agree, I think it’s a money making scheme and in particular I feel like social workers use there badge to exploit or discriminate against whom they want. It’s a hidden agenda. I think they’ve been given way too much authority!
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What do you expect when one of the most Senior Judges in the UK, Judge Fulford was advocating the age of consent to be lowered to four (4) years of age. The Prime Minister also recently refused to release Child Sex details to the Public Inquiry under National Security exemptions.Could it be the Judiciary is run by perverts and sex fiends??!! or am I being too vexatious?
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My daughter was taken into care without my knowledge. The LA had taken my daughter to court and asked for an interim foster care plan which lasts up to 6months. I was misrepresented in court and falsely alleged. The family judge without to here or have a concern as to why I was not represented in court or here the facts (that is very worrying) had given the LA what they seeked. The LA had used there badge to mislead the judge into thinking I was a dangerous individual without possessing any evidence. Judges need to remember that LA (specifically social workers) make individual observations resulting in different analysis. Which cannot be used as evidence against families. Mere suspicions should not be used to take babies and young children into foster care. They claim to look out for the best interest of the child. Well how will they justify that in my case they made the wrong analysis which has resulted in me and baby being seperated. Which is the primary key to a babies development. Will the family courts and LA apologise or show any remorse?
I feel like the LA are exploiting there power and are causing more harm than good. They have created a very bad name for themselves and need to start owning up for their faults! They seem to be getting away with murder by the looks of it! As we can see clearly with baby Elsie’s case! Where wore they? Why did they not take care or interest in baby Elsie’s welfare? Someone is to blame! Names of social workers should be released the judges are not the only ones to be held responsible. People deserve the truth! Who wore responsible? We have a right to know!
This is not acceptable. The government need to provide the LA with serious training. There qualifications need to be renewed. And the Government have a responsibility to rid of social workers in error! I think the LA or family courts should not be treating this as a mistake! They should be dealt with the public and those suffering in cause of this deserve justice.
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Thank you for your thought provoking comment. I’m so sorry to hear about what happened.
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Forced adoption should be unlawed unless the child is in evident life threatening risk or harm. There needs to be a fine line of serious risk and harm.
I strongly feel like social workers need to assessed on a daily basis by experts. Ranging from there academic capability, to family experience and mental health state. To avoided any prejudice and injustice upon the public.
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