Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about information that the Council provided during care proceedings. This is because the law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happened in court.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council has provided inaccurate information and omitted relevant information during proceedings to determine the care of his child.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happened in court. This includes information provided by councils during care proceedings.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happened in court.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman