Children 'wrongly removed from care' in Norfolk claim

The Norfolk Foster Carers' Association said unjustified removal cases could be "devastating"

An MP is calling for an investigation into whether Norfolk social services has been wrongly removing vulnerable children from foster care.

It follows the suspension of a Norfolk County Council manager and an internal investigation into why a boy was removed when bruising was found on him.

West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham said a wider investigation should take place if there was no evidence of abuse.

The council said the case was being "investigated thoroughly".

The social services department was branded as inadequate by Ofsted in 2013.

'No evidence'

The local authority's investigation concerned a case in which a nursery worker reported bruising on a four-year-old boy's leg in 2010 and he was removed from foster care.

Documents show that medical reports offered no evidence of abuse, and police said there was insufficient evidence for a criminal investigation.

The Norfolk Foster Carers' Association (NFCA) said it had been contacted by dozens of parents and foster parents making similar claims that children were taken away when they should not have been.

Ray Bewry, NFCA chairman, said: "We want a full investigation so the public can be confident the council is acting in the best interests of children and families as this could go beyond one person acting in isolation.

"These are cases which have a devastating effect on the people concerned."

'Utmost seriousness'

Peter Barron, a team manager, has been suspended while the Norfolk County Council investigation takes place.

Henry Bellingham, MP for West Norfolk, said: "If this complaint is upheld, such is the seriousness and level of public concern, the only way that could be assuaged is to bring in an outside, independent expert to examine previous cases."

Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, said: "The complaints are of the utmost seriousness and we need to ensure children are not taken away inappropriately."

Sheila Lock, interim head of the council's children's services department, said it would be "unreasonable" to comment on the specific case out of fairness to the suspended officer.

"Some concerns have been raised with us which are being investigated thoroughly and carefully," she said.