The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council taking Ms X’s child away. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The matter complained of has been subject to court action.
The complaint
Ms X said the Council had kidnapped her child.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because there has been court action to decide her child’s residence.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman