High turnout expected for protest against Herefordshire’s children’s services

The organiser of a protest against Herefordshire’s children’s services at the end of this month says she expects a high turnout.

“I have already been contacted by around 200 people who feel strongly about children being taken from their families,” Leominster resident Linda Summers said. “There are a tremendous number of people suffering.”

The planned demonstration, which has been okayed by the police, will start at the Grange park, Leominster, at 9am on Thursday June 30, before following a route around the town.

“It will get TV coverage – it’s going to be big,” Ms Summers, a care assistant, said.

Interest in the event has gathered online and via flyers posted by Ms Summers in the wake of last month’s BBC Panorama exposé of practices at Herefordshire Council’s children’s services department.

After the programme went out, the council’s chief executive Paul Walker apologised “to children and families affected by the very serious failings in our Children’s Services”.

Ms Summers said many of those who have contacted her have felt powerless in the face of social workers’ efforts to have their children into care through family courts, and that this practice was still ongoing.

“Yet I know of families who take drugs, even abuse their children – they would actually benefit from being taken into care, but aren’t. It’s nuts.”