Family Support Worker Sells Details of Adopted Child’s Placement

Frequently, parents moan about not being able to take photographs of their children in school assemblies and plays. This news story from Avon and Somerset Police is one of the reasons why schools now forbid it. Taking photographs of groups of school children and then sharing them on Facebook can put families at risk if their whereabouts or the children with them must remain unknown. This includes adopted children who cannot be found by birth parents.

So it’s a bit of a shocker when those tasked with keeping adopted children safe not only breach their own child protection protocols but also accept money to do so.

A former family support worker pleaded guilty to selling off information about an adopted child’s whereabouts to their birth mother.

Androulla Far of West Wick in Weston-Super-Mare, admitted one count of bribery/corruption in contrary to the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court.

She exchanged the name and address of an adopted child to their birth mother for £1800.

She is due before Bristol Crown Court for sentencing on June 6.

The police are urging anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact DC Darren Lipscomb on 101.