When Children are Taken from Loving Parents After Abuse Disclosures (What’s Really Happening)

So let me introduce you to my guests.

Now, we have Dr. Charlotte Proudman, who is the author of the book He Said, She Said, which everyone needs to go and grab a copy.

I'm sure you will as soon as you finish listening to this episode.

She's a prominent women's rights barrister and pr- founder of the firm Proudmans and the nonprofit Right to Equality.

I'm really pleased to be running this episode in partnership with Right to Equality as well, so thank you, Charlotte, for being here.

Um, we also have [laughs] Professor Jo Delahunty KC, who is a leading silk in both public and private law cases, winner of the 2025 Family Silk of the Year for skills, and also an author of two recent books which we'll be talking about later as well, and someone that's very special to me.

We've got Claire Waxman OBE, who is the victims commissioner for England and Wales.

So their job roles and what they do will become much more explained as we go through.

Now, to start this episode, I want to start by reading a quote from an article by Hannah Summers, who's an incredible journalist, published by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism earlier this month.

[lips smack] "Florence," that's not her, her real name, "was at home with her maths tutor on the day she was taken away from her mother.

Without warning, a social worker came to the house and told her she had half an hour to pack her things.

Florence burst into tears.

She was just 10 years old.

'I stuffed my favorite outfit in a bag, this blue shirt and leggings, along with a photo of me and Mum,' she recalls.

'And then I got this bunny, my favorite soft toy, and I left it on her bed.

It's what Mum would do for me if ever she had to go away.' Florence later learned this parting gesture had been used to criticize her mother, who had been her primary carer since her parents separated two years earlier.

'The social worker said to my mum that no child should be worried about their parents' feelings, and it was a sign of abuse,' she told us.

After walking Florence to her father's house, the social worker told her she would be able to go home in four or five weeks.

Later she was told six months.

In the end, it took her five years, a remarkable, and a remarkable High Court battle before she was able to return to live with her mother." Now, you can read that article by Hannah Summers in full on the Bureau of Investigative Journalism website.

But Charlotte, can I start with you? I mean- I find that hard just to, to read out loud.