British judge removes boy from smoke-filled home

A UK judge has withdrawn the custody of a two-year-old boy from his parents for negligence, due to their heavy smoking inside the family home.
The custody of the child has been given to Hull social services by judge Louisa Pemberton after hearing evidence from social worker Julie Allen.
The social worker told the judge that it was extremely difficult to breathe in the smoke-filled living room, where the young boy slept in a cloud of cigarette smoke.
“I told the parents they should think about the impact their addiction could have on their son,” Allen said.
Second-hand smoke was already affecting the young boy’s health, and he had started to use an inhaler a month ago for breathing problems.
Allen also said that in 10 years she had never been in such a smoky environment and stressed that all the boy’s toys and clothes stank of tobacco.
Bad health conditions inside the home, mental health problems on the part of the father, who also reportedly takes drugs, and risks including electrical cables all over the place were all reasons for the judge deciding to remove the child from his parents’ custody.
“The risks are too high for the boy. Adoption is the only option,” she said.
Pemberton continued: “I want to stress that I believe his parents love him very much and have tried to avoid this situation but down to their own difficulties they are unable to meet his needs.”