Slough Borough Council

Protection Order

An emergency protection order is made when a child is in immediate danger and may have to be taken away from home quickly.

This might be because someone has called the police if they are worried that a child is being hurt, it could be because a child has told someone like a teacher that they are being hurt, or a child might already be in a safe place, like a hospital.

Social services, the police or even a neighbour can go to a magistrate and apply for an emergency protection order.

Emergency protection orders are granted for:

• individual applicants where the child will suffer significant harm if not removed
• local authorities where enquiries are being made for other orders, and where these enquiries are being frustrated or unreasonably refused
• authorised persons where there is reasonable cause to suspect, or likelihood of, significant harm

The emergency protection order lasts for 8 days and anyone can apply to a court for an order. Parental access is not prevented.

To discuss protection orders in more detail please contact our customer service centre.

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