Interviewed Under Caution - Bruises on my son

[lovemysons]

First please let me make it clear I love my sons and would never harm them or let any harm come to them.

My ex partner took our youngest to the hospital as he had a large bump on his head, I don't know how it happened, he never came over to me crying about it. I noticed it a few minutes prior to my partner arriving. Prior to that we had been in the park.

In hospital they noticed a number of other bruises. I was not able to say when they all happened specifically - he is a little boy who falls over lots and wrestles with his brother etc. So I havent been concerned.

I spoke to the police in hopsital, but they are now not letting me see my sons unless its supervised by my ex-partner or his family. And I have to be interviewed under caution.
I'm very upset and very scrared that things have got this far when I have done nothing wrong, and I'm worried this farce will continue further.
I'm going through a complete nightmare. I can't sleep or function.
I have arranged for a solicitor to meet me at the police station.

Any help/advice? I'm desparate.

Tranquilitygardens im a senior social worker so have worked through these kinds of situations with many, many families (also have personal experience of social services over a 24 year period which was/ is largely positive).

Based on the information given to us so far by the OP (bruises on mobile child - the mobile bit is crucial, with no disclosure, no witnesses, no history of parenting concerns) I believe it will be difficult for the CPS to progress with this case. This is a very young child however and the bruises to his trunk and the bump to his head is definately concerning, the police would be doing this child a disservice if they weren't thorough in their investigation.

OP you need to remember the professionals in your child's case dont WANT your child to have suffered abuse, they want a healthy logical explanation as much as anyone else. They have no vested interest in finding anyone guilty of a crime they have not committed. We dont get patted on the head or any cash incentive for bringing children into the child protection system, my reward in this job is keeping happy, healthy families together where it is safe to do so.

The recent observation about the markings which disappeared is very interesting and very relevant. I hope this will be explored fully as part of the investigation.

Sorry I think the comment about my personal experience with SS is misleading. I should have said my personal experience is in a disability rather than child protection capacity. It hasn't always been easy and we have at times had to fight the system but logic and the morally right thing always won out in the end.

Thank you for all the information so far.

I'm now getting my head straight and making a bit more sense of this.

I think my problem was that I was shocked, tired, and surprised about all the questions and finger pointing in hosptial, that I didnt represent myself very well. I didnt have specific answers to a number of questions about bruises. But now thinking back, I have managed to identify how these could have happened, even though I did not see some of them happen myself. The swelling on his head, the bruise on his thigh and back I can account for.

The ear I cannot understand how it happened, but I have paid an online doctor who has come up with a number plausable reasons.

When I attend the Police interview, I shall be taking a criminal law solictor with me. And in my answers I will give clear explanations as to how the accidental bruises are present.

I hope this will be sufficent to prove that all injuries are accidental and my life can go back to normal and I can have my children here with me, I miss them sooo much.

Any comments most appreciated x

OP, I am pleased you have found a solicitor to go with you when you see the police.

Noir, just to let you know it was cafcass that I had issue with not social serces family law, the issues I had with my exh were not ss related, just him using family court to abuse me and use the children as pawns, after the police cut off one avenue to him.

Its sounds like you had an awful time Tranquilitygardens, I hope the children had some form of happy ending. Same for yours too OP, please keep us posted.

Please help - I'm very worried and upset.

I have just spoke to FASO, who have said that even if the police are satisfied with my answers and don't charge me, then whatever happens Social Services will complete their own investigations which could take weeks, and whatever the outcome of those investigations I will still have restricted access to my sons (this will happen if the Police decide to charge me or not, makes no difference).

They have also said I need a Criminal Law solicitor with the Police, and a Family Law solicitor when dealing with Social Services.

Does anyone know about this??

This nightmare keeps getting worse.

That's right - you need 2 types of solicitors. The advice will sometimes clash too. culture of openness with family proceedings and the opposite with criminal.

OP, I am so sorry.

You need to find out if you can get legal aid for a family law solicitor, it depends on income and assets, if not you will have to pay for a solicitor out of your own money. A solicitor will take your income into this.

Can I suggest something?

Give up child benefit and child tax credits if you need to bring down your income to get legal aid, and give them to your ex if he is trustworthy, if you give them to him it will be very hard to get back though.

I think your relationship with your ex will have a massive influence on this case, if he is on your side then things will be a great deal easier. Cafcass and social services will have to trust your ex to do supervised contact and he will have to be carefull to look to them as if he is impartial when it comes to you or they will not trust him and take your son off him. I wish I didn't know all this sort of stuff, sadly when you go through crap you end up meeting others who have also, and pick this stuff up along the way.

Let us know how you get on, and a big cyber hug for you.

I gather the criminal law solicitors are state funded.

OP if care proceedings are issued you will be eligible to receive non-means and non-merits tested legal aid, but if in the meantime you'd not get LA without transferring the benefits (given the present situation I'd be handing them over each week until this is resolved anyway) it's worth doing.

I was very nervous for my interview at the police station, its a scary situation which only criminals should be in. I openly and honestly told the police everything I knew, and they are now doing some more investigations.

I have not hurt my son, and I know that no one else has, anything that has happened is accidental. This is a living nightmare, and the pain of not being able to have my sons here with me is huge. I'm battling to keep it all together for their sake. I just want life to go back to normal and all this pain to go away, life is on hold for me and my partner.

Social services are going to visit me and talk things through. Then there will be a meeting everyone is invited to, where a plan is agreed as to what happens next in terms of the care for my boys. I'm soo worried that my restricted access will continue, and the pain will continue, its all I think about. I'm seeing a family solicitor next week, and will take her along to the meeting with me. For a while my son had been having some separation anxiety issues, I'm worried that all this will not be helping the situation.

I miss my boys soo much.

Nothing much to add, but just to let you know I am thinking of you and hoping this matter is resolved, for your sons and you, as soon as possible.