World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Court criticises child protection agency over secret placement without approval
A Breda court criticised Veilig Thuis West-Brabant for keeping three children at a secret location without court approval.
The children were removed from their home after reporting that they felt unsafe with their stepfather; the sources give different accounts of whether this happened in August or September.
Their mother initially agreed to a temporary placement, but later withdrew her consent and asked for them to return.
The court said the agency should have returned the children or sought approval before keeping them away; it did not get that approval until four days later.
The court later allowed the children to return to their mother after the stepfather moved elsewhere, while placing them under supervision.
The court called the agency’s actions very concerning and unacceptable, though it also noted serious concerns about the children’s home life, including their reports of being hit and kicked.
Police are investigating, and child protection services will continue to monitor the family.
A court in Breda said Veilig Thuis West-Brabant acted “very concerningly and unacceptably” by keeping three children at a secret location without timely court approval.
The children were placed in a holiday home after serious allegations of abuse by their stepfather.
Their mother withdrew her agreement to the placement, but the children were not returned and their whereabouts were not disclosed to her.
The agency sought court approval four days after the mother withdrew her agreement.
On 30 September, the court said the children could return to their mother because their stepfather had temporarily moved elsewhere.
- Who
- Veilig Thuis West-Brabant placed three children away from home. The court criticised the agency’s actions.
- What
- The children were kept at a secret location after their mother withdrew her agreement, before the agency obtained court approval.
- When
- The detailed account says the children were placed on 18 September and their mother withdrew consent on 21 September. One article says they were placed in August, so the sources differ.
- Where
- The children were taken to a holiday home at a secret location in West Brabant.
- Why
- They were removed amid serious allegations that their stepfather had abused them.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
According to De Groene Amsterdammer, Veilig Thuis took the children to a holiday home.
Their mother withdrew her agreement in a phone call with Veilig Thuis.
Veilig Thuis obtained court approval for the placement, which was granted for one week.
The court said the children could return to their mother because their stepfather had temporarily moved elsewhere.
- Children
- Three
- Agency
- Veilig Thuis West-Brabant
- Placement location
- Holiday home at a secret location
- Mother withdrew agreement
- 21 September, according to De Groene Amsterdammer
- Court approval
- Obtained four days after the mother withdrew her agreement
- Return home
- Court decision on 30 September
3 sources
What people are saying
very concerning and unacceptable
very concerning and unacceptable
In the Netherlands, a child can be removed from home without parental consent only through the Child Protection Board and the children’s court. There are emergency procedures for this; this route must never be bypassed.
takes the court’s ruling extremely seriously