Judge’s fears for suicidal girl’s future on release

A HIGH Court judge has warned “we will have blood on our hands” if appropriate care is not found for a suicidal teenager upon her release from a secure unit.

Sir James Munby, the most senior family court judge in England and Wales, revealed there are no places available for the girl in an “appropriate clinical setting” when she is freed in 11 days.

He said he felt “shame and embarrassment” that he “can do no more” for the girl, known only as X, in a judgment delivered in private in the High Court family division sitting in Manchester.

The judgment concerns a girl who has “on a large number of occasions” in a secure unit made “determined attempts to commit suicide”.

Experts believe she needs to be placed in further care following her release, but so far no appropriate bed has been found.

Sir James said the only placement identified as an option for the girl has a six-month waiting list for beds, and he hit out at the “disgraceful and utterly shaming lack of proper provision” of support for vulnerable people in the country.

Staff at the unit where the girl is being held, referred to as ZX, have warned that sending her back to her home town on release would be a “suicide mission to a catastrophic level”.

The judgment states: “Staff do not think it will take more than 24 to 48 hours before they receive a phone call stating that X has made a successful attempt on her life.”

In his ruling, Sir James said the case “should make us all feel ashamed”.

The teenager must leave the unit no later than 3pm on August 14.