No duty to parents

Lawrence v Pembrokeshire County Council CA TLR 29 May

The ombudsman upheld a mother’s complaints of maladministration against the council whose social workers had placed her four children on the register as at risk of physical or emotional harm for 14 months. As a result, the council paid her £5,000 in recognition of her distress and the damage to her reputation. She brought an action for damages against the council for breach of her right to respect for her family life, guaranteed by article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.