HEMMING BLASTS GOVERNMENT "ADOPTION MACHINE"

05-07-2007

John Hemming, the family rights campaigner and Birmingham MP has lashed out at what he calls the government’s "adoption machine" after discovering that the number of children taken into care under the age of five has almost doubled in little more than a decade.

Using government figures, Hemming has discovered that last year 4,160 under-5s were issued with some form of care order, and that 2,490 ended up living with new families - around 60%.

In 1995, just 2,870 in this age group were taken into care and 910 adopted - around 32%.

This means that in eleven years, hundreds more children are being taken under the protective wing of social services, and almost twice as many are being found new homes away from their natural parents.

There are, of course, a number of possible reasons for this.

Following various high profile cases of child abuse, it could be that the latest figures simply reflect the authorities’ willingness to intervene earlier where children are perceived to be at risk.

And maybe the higher adoption rates reflect a more determined approach towards preventing youngsters becoming institutionalised in local authority homes.

That’s not how Hemming sees it though.

In his role as Chairman of Families For Justice, he’s aware of numerous examples of children being needlessly separated from their parents and argues that there’s something sinister going on.

He believes that the government is trying to fulfil its self-imposed target of increasing the number of adoptions, and has encouraged social workers to act accordingly.

As under-5’s are the most popular group for adoption, they have borne the brunt of this policy.

It is he says, a "forced adoption machine" that acts as a "one way conveyor belt".

"The really disturbing trend," says Hemming, "is in the large numbers of newborn babies taken into care.

“I am aware of cases where babies are put in care because their mothers might get post natal depression. This is simply an evil way of working.

"We do need to think first of the children and their wider families rather than responding to the government's demand for more and more adoptions."

Hemming applied earlier this week to the Royal Courts of Justice asking for the lifting of reporting restrictions in cases where there have been miscarriages of justice.

It may be a fortnight before he knows the outcome, but he believes that in any event, caution should be exercised in putting up children for adoption when parent are fighting to keep them.

To see our previous report "MP Hemming Goes To Court In Justice Battle" click here.

Why do you think so many more children are being taken into care than a decade ago? And should they be adopted? To join the discussion, click here