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Family judge orders drug addict mother to give up her 14 children
Last updated at 00:07am on 30.01.08A judge has revealed that he has ordered 14 children from the same mother to be taken into care because of her addiction to crack cocaine and other drugs.
Family court judge Nick Crichton spoke out to highlight the growing problem of drug addicts trying to bring up large families.
The 14 children from one family in London were ordered into care by the judge amid fears for their safety.
It is claimed the bill to look after the children is likely to exceed £2million. It costs an average of £25,000 to hear each court case of care proceedings.
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Family court judge Nick Crichton, who revealed details of the mum who has lost all 14 children into care, said it was 'desperate and depressing' to make such rulings
In another case, a heroin addict in Yorkshire had her first three children taken away, but then had seven more by at least three men. One by one they were taken away until she had lost all 10.
The judge, speaking at the launch of the Family, Drug and Alcohol Court in central London yesterday, said: "We are routinely taking into care the fourth, fifth or sixth child from the same birth family.
"It is desperate and so distressing to have to do it."
He admitted the problem was escalating, saying: "It used to be heroin that was the predominant drug but now mothers are using crack cocaine, and crystal meth is just starting. Poly-drugs use is much more prevalent."
The court, based on a U.S. model, will deal with 180 families from three London boroughs in a three-year pilot scheme.
Each parent will have a specialist rehabilitation programme intended to help them overcome addictions so they can look after their children.
Judge Crichton said: "The object is to help this particular mother to hang on to this child. If she can, then she is unlikely to have another child every 12 or 15 months."
The court's first case was adjourned because the father did not turn up.
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