I believe that at times reconciling children with their parents and placing them with their parents helps than removing them by local authorities where there is no grave consequences. According to statistics as at 31 March 2019, the number of children looked after (CLA) by local authorities in England increased by 4% since 2018 to 78,150 - continuing increases seen in recent years. This is equivalent to a rate of 65 children per 10,000 - up from 64 per 10,000 in 2018 and 60 per 10,000 in 2015. 

According to national statistics the number of looked after children has increased steadily over the last seven to 9 years. There was increase of 6% in 2015 compared to 31 March 2011. A sizeable number of these children are non British and black children whose parent(s) recently relocated to the UK at the time of their start to be looked after. I am concerned with the number of black parents (some of them newly relocated to the UK as at the time of the incidence) who have approached me to report that their children where taken into care or made subjects of care order hastily without adequate investigation. Instead of working with them by offering them parental training or help them where they are struggling, it seems this increase has to do with lack of adequate investigations. This has impacted on families and led to many family break-ups.We all know they impact of sudden family break up on children's mental health. While I laud the wonderful works of Social Services and local authorities in safeguarding children, there is the need to mitigate excesses and injustices against children and families. I call on the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and the Parliament to investigate.

I believe that there is a reasonable connection between black children who were care leavers few years ago or in care and substance misuse, gang related activities and many of the senseless stabbings on the streets as these sudden separation may have impacted negatively on the children and put strain on them. In fighting the mental health and crimes among the young people I believe that we must leave no stone unturned.

The local authorities emphasis on taking children away from families first and going ahead to apply for care other in recent cases as first step instead of as a last resort is a contributory factor. I want a thorough investigation into children taken into care throughout the UK between 2014 and 2019 as the long term well being of these children and their parents especially mothers of these children seem completely ignored or investigations are not adequate. There have been cases where local authorities applied for care order even when threshold was not met or in dispute because it was done hastily.

I believe that what needs to be done is that a body should be set up to look into Black family cultural practices and beliefs in order to provide suitable parental classes as first step in care proceedings where there is no immediate or manifest risk to children instead of 'taking away black children from their families' (especially family who newly relocated to the UK first instead of as a last resort. I believe children should not be taken away from their children just because there is an allegation until a thorough investigation is carried out  because once taken away local authorities hardly return these children to their parents but hastily apply for care order. In most case involving foreign parents because their leave to remain in the UK is precarious they find it hard to adequately fight their cases. This is unfair, unjust and morally wrong to punish newly relocated parents by taking away their children just for mere accusations. 

I have worked with many parents who have been hurt by the harsh way their children are taken away. I had to intervene in one case recently where the local authority staff put words in the mouth of a child and tried to use it against their parents. This is unacceptable.