Child Protection: British authorities had "legal and justified" reasons to take Romanian children from Leeds

The Romanian authorities express their understanding of the pain of the Romanian family from Leeds whose children were taken into foster care by the British state, but consider that the reasons behind this decision are "legal and justified", reports RareșPetru Achiriloaie, the president of the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption (ANPDCA), through a post made on the institution's page.

Yhe President of the Child Protection in Romania says that what happened in Leeds represents a "sad event with a big impact both in the Romanian community in the territory and in British society". "Emotions took the place of reason and, carried by good intentions, people let things degenerate into a situation that turned into a riot We understand the family's pain and desire to keep their children close. Many things could have gone better, on both sides, but the important thing is to find solutions to resolve the conflict peacefully, with understanding and calmness. We understand the parents' point of view, we understood that they felt powerless, wronged and that they reacted out of fear", says Rareș-Petru Achiriloaie, president of ANPDCA.

Child Protection in Romania considers the reasons of the British colleagues legal and justified 

On the other hand, the ANPDCA president says that the Romanian authorities understand the reasons why the British authorities took the decision to act in the Leeds case.

"Our colleagues at the consular office discussed with the British authorities, we also understood their reasons, which are legal and justified otherwise. However, I pointed out that the situation could be managed better. 

I reiterate the fact that violence is not the solution in any situation because in the end we want the entire Romanian community to feel protected, just as British citizens also want to feel safe", he says. 

Rareș-Petru Achiriloaie specifies that the institution he leads will continue to monitor the case and involve "whenever the case will be, to represent the rights of Romanian children". 

"In this case, punctually, we are going to take concrete steps together with the Consulate General of Romania in Manchester to identify the best option for the 4 children, who at this moment are safe, together, in the care of the British authorities", he added The President of Child Protection. 

What generated the revolt of the Romanians in Leeds 

Street violence took place on Thursday, July 18, in a neighborhood of Leeds, Great Britain, where several people, including Romanians, destroyed and overturned a police car and set fire to a bus. 

The incidents had as their starting point the attempt of the British child protection authorities to take the children of a Romanian family, after one of the little ones arrived at the hospital with a blow to the head. 

Following the violent incidents, nine Romanian citizens were detained by the British police, and then 8 of them were released, according to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs