London Borough of Barnet v AG & Others [2021] EWHC 1253

The case concerned children living in the London Borough of Barnet (LBB) about whom the LBB had serious concerns. In January 2020 the 6 children were aged 5, 9, 14, 17 and (twins) 18. Safeguarding referrals were received in November 2019 and January 2020. The children’s parents were a diplomat and his wife, and in November 2019 refused consent for the children to be spoken to at home or at school, relying on diplomatic immunity. After the January 2020 referral the police informed the LBB that diplomatic immunity prevented a police investigation. LBB spoke to the children at school, and the children made allegations of significant physical mistreatment, on occasions requiring medical treatment. The parents claimed that diplomatic immunity prevented the LBB from placing any information about them before the court.