Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed to act to safeguard his child. This is because the complaint is made late and I see no good reason to consider it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council failed to act to protect his child from abuse.

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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 late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, 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 will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The Council ended its child protection enquiries in 2020, and the abuse is alleged to have taken place in 2022. Mr X’s complaint is therefore made late. I am satisfied that Mr X has been aware of these matters for several years, so see no good reason why he could not have complained sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman