Emergency intervention to protect children: using and avoiding legal controls [2005] CFLQ 75

Using data from two empirical studies, this article explores the factors that determine how local authorities respond to child protection crises, particularly whether they seek to accommodate children, apply for emergency protection orders or request police assistance, in the form of police protection. In doing so it questions the extent to which parents' and children's rights are protected and the local authority is held to account for its actions.