Four children returned to the extended family after the Leeds riots

Four children who were removed from their home by social services in Leeds have now been returned to their families.

The children were staying with extended family members when they were taken into emergency care by police in Harehills on Thursday.

This led to riots in the streets, with a bus being torched and a police car overturned, with at least 10 arrested so far.

The children’s parents welcomed the decision to return them, with their mother telling the BBC: “I’m glad the children are back with their family.”

At a family court hearing, Judge Helen Trotter-Jackson said it was important that everyone “focuses on the welfare of the children and bringing the temperature down in this case”.

She explained that the court gave permission for the children to be removed in April after a child in the family was taken to hospital with unexplained injuries.

Leeds Children’s Services also explained that they were told by a third party that family members would take them to Romania.

As all the children are foreign nationals without settlement status, it could be difficult for them to return to the UK.

They were all placed with extended family members in the Harehills area but were moved to live with foster carers last week.

Iain Hutchinson, solicitor for Leeds City Council, said that after “extensive meetings” the council decided “the children can be returned to foster care today”.

The council asked that there be no celebration in the streets, following the riots after the children were taken.

Iustin Dobre, 37, is the first accused of violent disorder and arson.

He is the first person charged in an investigation in which at least 10 people have been arrested so far.

Expand

West Yorkshire Police say four people who were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Five others were also arrested.

The hours-long outage saw a double-decker bus burnt to a wreck, a police car overturned and windows smashed with stones and bricks.

Officers were deployed, some of whom were dressed in riot gear – but the force decided to withdraw the officers temporarily because “it was clear the police were the only target”.

The streets were left littered with broken glass and debris after people clashed with lines of officers in formation.

MORE: Desperate search for teenager who went missing swimming in reservoir

MORE: Boy, 15, stabbed to death outside school gates and knife on the run

MORE: Mum’s frantic call as boy plays on park slide shot dead at birthday party

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.