BM, Re (Children: Tracking Devices) [2025] EWFC 290 (B) (11 September 2025)

BM, Re (Children: Tracking Devices) [2025] EWFC 290 (B) (11 September 2025)

The court found that both parents were involved in the deliberate placement of tracking devices on their children in foster care, rejecting their explanations as untruthful and concluding that the devices were intended to facilitate locating and potentially abducting the children, thereby posing a significant risk of harm.

Citation
[2025] EWFC 290 (B)
Parties
Applicant: A Local Authority; Respondent: A Mother; Respondent: A Father; Respondent: The Children
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
11 September 2025
Procedural Posture
Care Proceedings / Fact Finding Judgment
Outcome
Findings made against both parents; both found to have participated in placing tracking devices on children in foster care with intent to locate and potentially remove them from care.
Legal Topics
Use of Tracking Devices, Care Proceedings, Parental Responsibility, Child Abduction Risk, Evidential Assessment
Family Law Child Protection Use of Tracking Devices Care Proceedings Parental Responsibility Child Abduction Risk Evidential Assessment

Case Brief

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Parties

A Local Authority

Applicant

A Mother

Respondent

A Father

Respondent

The Children

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Care Proceedings / Fact Finding Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether parents placed tracking devices on children in foster care
  2. 2 Whether the parents' actions constituted a risk of abduction or significant harm
  3. 3 Assessment of credibility of parental evidence

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that both parents were involved in the deliberate placement of tracking devices on their children in foster care, rejecting their explanations as untruthful and concluding that the devices were intended to facilitate locating and potentially abducting the children, thereby posing a significant risk of harm.

Court Disposition

Findings made against both parents; both found to have participated in placing tracking devices on children in foster care with intent to locate and potentially remove them from care.

Orders

  • Findings to be used in future case management and welfare evaluation.
  • Parents to reflect on findings and address the damage caused to their case.