News Essentials: 26th November 2022

A brief summary of the essential family law news and cases from the last week: 

NEWS

Judge praises ‘strength of character’ of teenager housed in Airbnb after going into council care
A family court judge has praised the “strength of character” of a “vulnerable” teenager who spent nearly eight months living under constant supervision in an Airbnb after going into council care. Full story: Care Appointments.

Three children taken by father to Libya in ‘blatant abduction’, says High Court judge
A High Court judge has raised concern about three children “clandestinely” taken to Libya by their Libyan father. Full story: Care Appointments.

Local authorities having to find homes for children at the ‘last minute’
Local authorities are struggling with a last-minute dash to find homes for children coming into care, according to Ofsted. Full story: Family Law Week.

Access to justice can’t survive further budget cuts: new report from the Bar Council
Access to justice in England and Wales continues to be severely hampered by budget cuts and political decisions made over a decade ago, according to a new report by the Bar Council. Full story: Family Law Week.

Domestic abuse charities call for Emergency Domestic Abuse Fund
Domestic abuse charities have welcomed the Chancellor's commitment in his Autumn Statement to increase benefits in line with inflation, and extend support on energy bills beyond April 2023, as many have called for since the cost of living crisis began. Full story: Family Law Week.

Vast majority of fostering enquiries do not result in applications: Ofsted report
The number of mainstream fostering applications has fallen from 10,520 in 2018 to 8,280 in 2022. Full story: Family Law Week.

New mapping shows variation on rates of private law applications across England and Wales
A new series of maps by the Family Justice Data Partnership has visualised the variation in rates of private law applications across local authorities in England and Wales between 2009/10 and 2019/20. Full story: Family Law Week.

Number of children looked after by local authorities in England has risen slightly in last year
In 2022, the number of children looked after by local authorities in England rose to 82,170, up 2 per cent on last year and continuing the rise seen in recent years. Full story: Family Law Week.

445 children subject to DoLs applications in first four months of the national deprivation of liberty court
In the first four months of the national deprivation of liberty court, there have been 459 applications (14 are 'repeat' applications, where the local authority has issued a new application form within a case). Full story: Family Law Week.

CASES

Oxfordshire County Council v A Mother & Ors [2022] EWFC 141 (9 November 2022)
Care proceedings concerning placement of 15 year old, and whether it should be secured by a care order, or whether he should be accommodated with the consent of his parents under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. Full report: National Archives.

BK v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (CSM) (Child support - calculation of income) [2022] UKUT 283 (AAC) (27 October 2022)
Child Support - non-resident parent providing cogent, albeit not conclusive, evidence that the "HMRC figure" was not consistent with information supplied by his employer under PAYE regulations - whether Secretary of State should make a new request for an Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs "figure" - whether tribunal required to adjourn for that to be done. Full report: Bailii.

BASKYS v. LITHUANIA - 47410/20 (Judgment : No Article 8 - Right to respect for private and family life : Second Section) [2022] ECHR 1008 (22 November 2022)
Complaints that the court decisions that his son was to reside with the child’s mother, and the State authorities’ actions regarding the applicant’s contact with his son, were in breach of Article 8 of the Convention. Full report: Bailii.