Louise Tickle

An appeal overturned a High Court order that banned the naming of judges involved in family court decisions preceding the murder of Sara Sharif, ruling the anonymity decision unlawful and procedurally flawed. The Court of Appeal also deemed the High Court judge’s criticism of the journalists inappropriate, affirming the importance of transparency in family courts and safeguarding press scrutiny. The case highlights ongoing efforts to improve openness in child protection proceedings and underscores the need for clarity and accountability in assessing failures that preceded the child’s death.

A High Court judge refused permission to appeal his decision to ban publication of the names of judges involved in past family court proceedings concerning murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif. The restriction, considered unprecedented, was challenged by reporters supported by Tortoise Media, who will now seek permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal. Released documents show one judge presided over three related cases involving care proceedings and a custody application by Sara’s father. Judicial anonymity is typically granted only through formal applications, and previous rulings have emphasised the public interest in naming judges, even in sensitive cases.

A newly disclosed family court report shows that an inexperienced Surrey social worker failed to identify risks posed by Urfan Sharif despite a history of allegations and police concerns. The assessment heavily focused on claims against the children’s mother, Olga Domin, and recommended the children live with Sharif and his partner, Beinash Batool. A Cafcass letter had previously highlighted safeguarding concerns related to Sharif, but it was not reflected in the local authority’s analysis. Sharif and Batool were later convicted of murdering 10‑year‑old Sara Sharif, prompting fresh scrutiny of Surrey County Council’s handling of the case and an ongoing independent review.

Soaring deprivation of liberty orders for children with complex psychological and behavioural needs reflects a severe shortage of safe, therapeutic placements. Former senior family judge Sir James Munby warns that vulnerable children are being confined in inappropriate, unregulated settings, causing serious harm while government bodies fail to act. Judicial rulings and investigations highlight a worsening crisis marked by systemic neglect, lack of suitable facilities, and insufficient political engagement. High-profile cases illustrate how delayed or absent interventions leave children isolated and at risk, raising urgent questions about state responsibility during an election period.

A 14-year-old girl known as Becky has been held in harmful and unlawful conditions after the child protection and mental health systems failed to provide suitable care, leaving her repeatedly placed in unsafe, unregulated settings. Senior judges warned that her deprivation of liberty was causing further damage, yet local authorities and providers lacked both capacity and willingness to support her. Systemic failures driven by budget cuts, outsourcing, and government inaction have created a national crisis in care for vulnerable children, leaving Becky and others without safe or stable placements as their situations deteriorate.

An expanded pilot scheme now allows journalists to report from family courts in nearly half of all court centres in England and Wales, with anonymisation successfully protecting families’ identities. Despite this progress, limited newsroom resources prevent meaningful coverage of the complex, lengthy cases that shape critical decisions about children and families. Greater media attendance and reporting are needed to ensure transparency and accountability across councils, NHS trusts, Cafcass and legal professionals, countering the dangers of power exercised in secrecy.

Five surviving siblings of ten-year-old Sara Sharif, who was found dead in her father’s home in Surrey, have been made wards of court in the UK while remaining in Pakistan. Surrey County Council has petitioned a high court in Lahore for their return, running in parallel with UK wardship proceedings. Sara’s father, stepmother and uncle, who left for Pakistan with the children shortly before her body was discovered, have pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges at the Old Bailey. A safeguarding review has been launched into agency involvement before Sara’s death, while authorities confirm her mother is not suspected of involvement.

A transcript from a closed family court hearing reveals a judge expressing hostility toward judicial transparency efforts and distrust toward journalists, raising concerns about bias and unchecked power within the UK family justice system. The published transcript, obtained after a successful high court appeal, highlights the danger of secrecy in courts where significant decisions affecting families are made without public scrutiny. The case underscores broader fears about unobserved judicial conduct and reinforces the need for expanded access and transparency, supported by ongoing transparency pilots showing that robust reporting can coexist with anonymity protections.

A 16-year-old boy accused of multiple rapes and exhibiting dangerous behaviour was repeatedly housed by Coventry council in unregulated Airbnbs due to the absence of any secure placement willing to take him. High Court judge Mrs Justice Lieven condemned the council and children’s services for serious failures, citing poor oversight, unmanaged cannabis use, repeated absconding, violent incidents and a lack of education or therapeutic support. She criticised the growing reliance on deprivation of liberty orders as a stopgap for unacceptable care standards and warned that such practices are becoming normalised despite posing risks to both the child and the public.

A 12-year-old girl with complex mental health needs was held in solitary seclusion for nearly eight weeks due to the severe shortage of secure therapeutic placements in England and Wales. Judicial rulings sharply criticized the Department for Education for failing to address the crisis, while freedom of information data revealed long waiting lists, high costs of unregulated emergency care, and multiple child deaths in such settings. Despite increasing deprivation of liberty orders and mounting evidence of systemic collapse, the government has offered limited responses and no meaningful action. Calls intensify for central government to commission more regulated secure placements to protect highly vulnerable children.

A High Court judge condemned NHS delays that left a suicidal 12‑year‑old girl isolated for weeks in a locked hospital seclusion room after disagreements over her diagnosis prevented her from being sectioned. The judge pressed the local NHS trust for urgent action, criticising bureaucratic procurement processes that delayed her transfer to a paediatric mental health unit. The girl has repeatedly self‑harmed, prompting concerns from her guardian about risks to her life and potential breaches of human rights protections. Her mother expressed distress over the prolonged isolation and limited contact with her daughter.

A 12-year-old girl in Staffordshire has been held in a locked hospital room after multiple failed placements, highlighting severe shortages in secure therapeutic accommodation for vulnerable children in England. A high court judge criticised the local authority, NHS trust and CAMHS for failing to find appropriate care and raised concerns about resource‑driven clinical decisions. With only limited secure beds available nationwide, the child remains in restrictive conditions while authorities assess future options.

The UK’s most senior family judge condemned the education secretary for failing to address severe shortages of secure therapeutic placements for vulnerable children at risk of self‑harm or suicide. The judgment highlighted dozens of cases where no suitable placements were available, forcing children into inappropriate or unsafe arrangements and leaving courts unable to ensure their protection. The judge rejected the government’s claim that the issue fell outside its responsibility and criticised its lack of engagement. Children’s rights advocates called for urgent national action and substantial investment, while the Department for Education pointed to planned expansion of secure placements in the coming years.

Severe shortages of secure children’s homes in England have left vulnerable young people waiting an average of 65 days for placements, with some waiting more than 200 days. Campaigners describe the crisis as a national child protection emergency, citing children placed in unregistered and unlawful settings and deteriorating mental health in hospital wards. Judges have escalated concerns to government leaders, while charities warn of long-term failures in commissioning adequate secure care. The Department for Education acknowledges the issue and highlights investment plans to expand safe, high-quality accommodation and increase provision for children with complex needs.

A High Court judge approved an unlawful unregulated placement for a suicidal 13‑year‑old in the care of Manchester City Council after months of failed attempts to find a regulated therapeutic home. The judge criticised the national shortage of suitable placements, calling it scandalous, and said the makeshift arrangement was the only route to discharge the girl from hospital. Councils reported widespread scarcity of regulated placements, and private providers were unwilling to take the legal and commercial risk of offering unregulated accommodation. The ruling highlights systemic failures in children’s social care and the increasing use of deprivation‑of‑liberty orders amid rising applications to the national court overseeing such cases.

A teenager with complex needs was held for months in a hospital lacking appropriate facilities because no secure children’s home place was available in England, highlighting a severe shortage of therapeutic placements. A family court judge allowed limited reporting of the case, but an appeal has sent the matter back for reconsideration. Government figures indicate only 132 secure places exist, with many children placed far from home, including in Scotland. The Department for Education stated it is investing £259m to expand capacity in children’s homes.

Councillors and families condemned severe failings in Herefordshire’s children’s services after an Ofsted inspection rated the department inadequate in all areas and concluded that children were not being protected from harm. Speakers criticised past human rights breaches, rising distress among affected families, and leadership decisions, prompting calls for senior resignations. The UK education secretary placed the council under statutory direction, appointing a commissioner to determine whether the service should be taken over by central government.

A kinship carer in Plymouth won a judicial review after a judge ruled that the council’s method for calculating special guardian payments was irrational. The decision requires Plymouth Council to recalculate and back pay allowances to affected carers and has national implications for local authorities that deviate from government guidance. Sarah Becker, who cares for her two grandchildren, faced severe cuts to her support and argued that the reductions made it nearly impossible to provide for the children. The ruling highlights the importance of financial stability for kinship carers and the need for councils to justify any departures from official guidance.

Concerns are rising in England and Wales over a two-tier system for court intermediaries, with vulnerable defendants often receiving support from unregistered and less qualified contractors despite the higher standards required for intermediaries assisting witnesses. Professionals and advocacy groups warn that deregulation and increased privatisation could undermine fairness in trials, arguing that all participants should have access to properly trained and vetted intermediaries. Examples from youth and high-profile trials highlight how intermediaries help individuals with communication difficulties understand proceedings and give coherent evidence, underscoring their essential role in ensuring justice for vulnerable people.

A Ministry of Justice report identifies severe failings within Cafcass, including inadequate risk assessments, insufficient training on domestic abuse, and disregard for children’s expressed fears. The findings indicate that prioritizing parental contact over safety has placed children at risk, undermining trust in the family justice system. Despite partial acknowledgment from leadership, the organization’s defensive stance raises concerns about its legitimacy and ability to protect vulnerable families.

Headteachers in England are limiting admissions of children with special educational needs as funding cuts strain their ability to provide adequate support, prompting some families to pursue judicial review against the government. Parents report being pressured into home education and encountering insufficient resources, while legal advocates argue that underfunding has pushed schools into unlawful decisions. Local officials and MPs acknowledge systemic financial shortfalls, and calls grow for reform of SEN funding as councils and schools struggle to meet rising needs.