Kirstie Allsopp, the presenter of Location, Location, Location, has been contacted by social services after allowing her 15-year-old son, Oscar, to travel around Europe with a 16-year-old friend. The local services reached out following allegations of "neglect," and a social worker informed Allsopp that a file had been opened due to child protection concerns.
Allsopp expressed her disbelief and frustration in an interview with The Mail on Sunday. She stated, "I just felt sick—absolutely sick. Then I was cross. I was very, very cross. I have broken no law and nothing about allowing my child to travel around Europe is neglectful."
Earlier this week, Allsopp shared her pride on social media as she welcomed Oscar back from a nine-day train trip around Europe. She tweeted, "If we're afraid, our children will also be afraid; if we let go, they will fly." Despite her positive sentiments, the decision has sparked a backlash, with critics questioning the appropriateness of letting a teenager travel independently.
The social worker who contacted Allsopp reportedly asked about the safeguards she had put in place for Oscar's trip. Allsopp, feeling that the concern was unwarranted, ended the conversation, stating that it was none of the official's business.
Allsopp is concerned that the referral was made maliciously and expressed further distress over the possibility of the file being kept open. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), Allsopp's local council, confirmed that they take any referrals seriously and have a statutory responsibility for children under 18. They added that it is standard practice for such records to be retained until a child’s 25th birthday.
.png)
.png)
0 Comments