High Court reaffirms welfare as paramount in determining a child’s best interests
In light of the High Court's decision that a boy sent to Ghana by his parents amid concerns he was becoming involved in "gang culture" should remain there, Partner and Head of the Divorce and Family department, Deborah Jeff, comments on the Court’s reaffirmation that a child’s wishes may, in certain circumstances, be overridden by holistic consideration of their welfare, in The Telegraph.
“This unusual wardship case demonstrates how the ordinarily impactful wishes of an almost 15 year old child can be overridden by the holistic and paramount consideration of their welfare.
"This was careful adjudication of competing safeguarding threats to the child, known as S. The real, identifiable risk of the gang culture he was likely to become part of if he remained in his London home was countered by the emotional and psychological harm he will feel at being away from close family in Ghana, and in litigation with his parents.
"S remaining in Ghana was against his clear wishes. However, doing so, and with therapeutic intervention for the family to address the emotional and psychological effect of S not being with his parents in the UK, along with the pre-existing family dynamics, was on balance in the best interests of this child.
"This carefully considered conclusion will ensure he is not exposed to the real risk of joining the gang culture he was becoming aligned with in his London home."
Deborah's comments were published in The Telegraph, 4 November 2025.
