Child protection Section 46

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/25/008015/G

Version Date: 14/07/2025

Our request relates to the practice of Child Protection (72hrs) - Sec 46 of the Children's Act 1989, 'where a Police Officer has reasonable grounds to believe a child is likely to suffer significant harm, they may remove the child to suitable accommodation'.

Under the Freedom of Information Law (FOI) we respectfully request the information specified below.

1) From 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 - How many instances have there been of a child being taken into Police Protection in your force?

The Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information.

Searches were completed on Niche from 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 for ‘X Police Protection Powers’. The occurrences selected are those where the Police have exercised their protection powers to take children to a place of safety away from their parents/guardians.

This search resulted in 99 occurrences.