"I was given ultimatums, rather than true assistance. It felt like they were using the powers of the state coercively rather than constructively. It felt, in a way, that there was a flow chart which would ultimately result in the removal of my children, step by step."
"My mistrust of social services is not an innate feature of my personality, it developed due to my dealings with them."
"'persistent reluctance to engage'"
Constance Marten said social services gave ultimatums rather than assistance and used state powers coercively, creating a sense that removal of her children was inevitable. Marten and Gordon had five children, four removed into care before baby Victoria’s birth. The couple moved across the country between 2017 and 2023, with each move coinciding with escalating safeguarding concerns. The couple fled authorities to prevent Victoria being taken into care. Marten said her mistrust of social services developed due to her dealings with them. The case noted difficulty engaging parents who evade services and called for better support for parents whose children have been taken into care.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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