The Court of Appeal orders urgent hearing in important case on child criminal exploitation and school exclusions.
This case came to BEO on 24th December 2024. It was clear that it was a case that aligned to our Justice and Education pillars. It involved a young Black boy who had been exploited into a county line gang. The Academy knew that his behaviour in school was out of character and had been made aware that he had likely been criminally exploited and forced into a county line.
Children and young people from Black Caribbean communities, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds and those with special educational needs are overrepresented in exclusion statistics and at increased risk of CCE.
Despite the evidence the Governing Body decided to permanently exclude, this decision was upheld following an independent Review Panel.
The judicial review claim is amongst other points arguing that the Academy had sufficient evidence before it to take positive steps to comply with their Article 4 Human Rights obligation to prevent someone being trafficked into forced labour or slavery.
BEO was asked to intervene in the claim, in the same way as we did in the Windrush judicial review. We were supported by a legal team from Freshfields LLP and barristers from Garden Court Chambers.
The case is to be heard at the Court of Appeal on 6th February. We will update you on the outcome.
