XUY, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Croydon

Facts

Mr Y and his wife, Mrs Z, have six children, referred to as A to F in decreasing order of age. The London Borough of Croydon had recorded concerns about the family for some years, but took no substantive action even after A left home in October 2023 following a self-harm episode and hospitalisation, and after the Council formed the view in December that year that the threshold in section 47(1) of the Children Act 1989 was met. Matters came to a head on 23 May 2025, when Mr Y emailed the Council to say that B had been given the choice of completing his secondary education at boarding school or leaving home on turning 16, in which case he would need the Council's help. Social workers began a Child and Family Assessment but did not complete it, saying the parents were uncooperative; officers repeatedly sought entry to the family home and warned they might seek police assistance. An Initial Child Protection Conference was held on 24 July 2025 and, on 25 July 2025, a Child Protection Plan was made for five of the children under the category of emotional abuse. Mr Y, acting in person, issued judicial review proceedings on 19 September 2025. Permission was refused on the papers by Marcus Pilgerstorfer KC on 18 November 2025 but granted on all grounds at an oral renewal by HHJ Dunne on 27 January 2026.