Emergency powers for child protection

This paper examines the use of emergency intervention for child protection in England by police and social sevices to establish why and when powers are used and what happens subsequently. It is based on two studies conducted in England between 1998 and 2004. The PP study examined practices in 16 police forces and looked in detail at 311 cases from 8 forces. The EPO study included a national survey of courts, an analysis of 86 cases from 6 local authorities which were heard in the courts in 3 courts areas There are wide variations in the use of emergency powers. The police act independently and in response to social workers' requests. Social workers resort to emergency powers in well-known, serious cases where parents refuse co-operation. EPOs are followed by care proceedings in most cases.