Kent County Council v P & Anor [2022] EWCOP 3

Judgment concerning whether the public should be admitted to the Court of Protection proceedings concerning P and whether this judgment should be published.

P had been found by the police at her parents' home in a state of extreme neglect. Now looked after by the LA, she has suffered physically and mentally from her experiences and there was considerable press interest in the case.  Earlier hearings had been held in private over concerns about the potential impact on P if any media or social media commentary come to her attention.

Kent CC and Kent police opposed allowing the press to report but Lieven J, after reviewing the relevant provisions, concludes that the press should be allowed to report subject to a RRO. Her change of mind was largely because P had not connected with the outside world as the judge had expected she would so the risk of personal distress to her is significantly less than had been initially feared.  Lieven J also dismissed any fears about prejudicing criminal proceedings arising from the case.

​Read the judgment on Bailii.