A BABY taken away from its mother and a mother refusing father visits after a rape allegation – this is what happens in a day at a family court.

Life-changing decisions are made every day in family courts, which have previously been kept hidden from the public eye, but a reporting pilot has allowed journalists behind closed doors.

The transparency pilot, including Bournemouth Combined Court, aims to hold judges, local authorities, police and other agencies to account while keeping the identity of children anonymous.

On November 6 the Daily Echo attended a number of hearings.

Child deprived of liberty after self-harm attempt in care

BCP Council applied to His Honour Judge Christopher Simmonds to deprive the liberty of a 13-year-old girl after she attempted to self-harm in care.

The girl is now recovering in hospital but a spokesperson for BCP Council said they need to continue restricting her movement for her health.

The local authority told the judge it was a serious attempt of self-harm and that her previous care placement will not take her back.

Judge Simmonds extended the order to restrict the girl from leaving the hospital ward, removal of certain items that could be used to harm, a two to one care ratio and she must communicate while alone in a bathroom.

The girl’s mother and father attended court through a video link, and said the former had not spoken to her daughter since June when the girl cancelled contact and the latter in over a year.

Judge Simmonds said it was “necessary and proportionate” for her liberty to be deprived as the risk to the girl remained high.

Nine-month-old baby taken away from mother

Dorset Council applied for a nine-month-old baby to be removed from its mother’s care after she was not deemed fit to parent.

The court heard that the mother suffers from drug and mental health problems and had previously had another child removed and taken to live with its father in another county.

After tearful discussions with her representative, the mother agreed to the removal which will see the baby moved to the care of her half-sibling’s father.

District Judge Michael Veal said: “I give her real credit for working that through because it must have been difficult, and I feel it is right for [the baby].”

Although the carer is ready to look after the baby, he does not currently have an appropriately sized house and is struggling to find one in the rental crisis.

To help the baby stay with blood relatives, Dorset Council have offered to pay the deposit and six months rent for the carer’s new home.

Mother accuses father of sexual abuse and refuses children visits

A man brought the mother of his children, aged six and three, to court after complaints that she is withholding him from seeing them.

It was previously ruled in June that the mother must allow the father to see the children however, the court heard that she has refused to facilitate.

The court heard that the mother has accused the father of rape, with an ex-partner also reporting offences.

The father denies the allegations and said: “I just want to be there for them [the children].”

A trial was listed for next year and the mother agreed to indirect contact between the children and the father’s sisters.

Mother allowed to keep children due to lack of local care placements

Dorset Council applied to the court to remove three children from their mother, after an incident involving her partner.

However, a spokesperson for Dorset Council said that finding a local placement is a “real issue” and they are concerned of placing the older children further away due to the risk of fleeing.

As a result, the local authority decided not to seek immediate removal and instead placed an interim supervision order, which allows the council to support the mother with parenting.

Judge Simmonds advised the woman to avoid entering anymore relationships at this time, and that if someone ‘catches her eye’ then to look up their criminal record and not let them in her house or near her children.

“I want you to keep your kids,” said Judge Simmonds.

Father accuses mother of manipulating children  

A father has accused the mother of his children of manipulating them into refusing overnight visits at his house, a court heard.

An order was made in December last year which allowed contact between the father and his two children, including overnight visits however, the mother said the children do not want to.

The father told the court that the children picked out their own clothes and bedding to keep at his house and were looking forward to visits, with one child reportedly telling a neighbour of their excitement.

He said there have been several occasions where he arrived to collect the children, but the mother refused to let them.

He added that the children said they have been sleeping in their mother’s bedroom “because they need mummy to sleep”, which has resulted in one of them sleeping in a makeshift bed on the floor.

Judge Simmonds told the parents to trial one overnight visit.