Child protection intervenes
Just as Margaret and the reunited family were about to walk out, the officer stopped them. All four of them were very confused. Did this story still have a tail? Why weren’t they allowed to go? The officer explained that in these kinds of situations the police were obliged to call in child protection. Although the boy was found safe, it was necessary to assess whether there had been negligence.
Everyone involved had to talk with a social worker, all apart from each other. The social worker came to carry out an emergency assessment. What would she conclude?