View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Judge gives BBC permission to interview father of boy in council care

By PA Media Lawyer

A High Court judge has given journalists at a BBC regional television programme permission to conduct an exclusive interview with the father of a boy who has significant behavioural difficulties and is in council care.

Mr Justice Holman made an order allowing “representatives” of BBC Look East, which is based in Norwich, to “seek or obtain information” about the boy’s situation from his father.

He heard the application at a hearing in Family Division of the High Court in London.

BBC editors had been in dispute with social services bosses at Norfolk County Council, who have responsibility for the boy’s care, over what could be reported.

But lawyers from both sides told Mr Justice Holman yesterday that they had reached an agreement which would mean that the council could be identified and Look East journalists could speak to the boy’s father.

Mr Justice Holman subsequently made an order approving that agreement.

But he said judges treated journalists even-handedly and he said other media organisations which wished to interview the boy’s father could make an application.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Little detail about the boy emerged.

Council lawyers said he had significant behavioural difficulties. They said a placement in secure accommodation had been authorised but no place had been available because of a nationwide shortage.

A number of judges, including Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court, have raised concern about the shortage of secure accommodation for children in England and Wales in recent years.

Mr Justice Holman told lawyers representing the BBC and Norfolk County Council that the shortage was “scandalous”.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network