So why has Shannon Matthews been placed under an emergency protection order?

Question

It makes my skin crawl to think of what she must have gone through in her life, why would she be placed under care now - is it too obvious??

Answer 1

For obvious reasons the police could not say too much on the news.  I understand that she had talked about running away from home.

I would imagine that the police and social services will be investigating her home background before a decision is made about returning her home. In addition the police will want to "debrief" her sensitively about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.  If this is to be achieved it has to be done in a safe and secure environment without undue influence from family.  In fairness to Shannon this is the way it has to be.

I do feel so sorry for her though. My heart really goes out to .her

edit

Have just seen referees comments.  If she was there of her own free will why was she found under a bed and why was the man sheltring her arrested on suspicion of abduction?

I too saw the news.

.

Answer 2

Because her 'mother' has 7 children to 6 different fathers!! Slapper!! Not an ideal environment for a child to grow up in!

Answer 3

Sometimes I feel in cases like these, it is better to keep your mouth shut and appear to know nothing, than to open it and remove all doubt.

Answer 4

Cos she needs protecting?

Answer 5

Linked predatory paedophiles. If there was someone else,chances are they will come for her.

Answer 6

Probably because the man who was holding her is part of her extended family and she will need to make a statement to police over the next couple of days. Also she will need emergency professional psychiatric care after her ordeal.

Answer 7

Something mighty fishy's going on, me thinks.

Answer 8

She must have been there of her own free will, there is no other reason why she would be in protected care, He was a family member on her step-fathers side!

Answer 9

i asked somethink simular and got totally diffrent answeres to what i had expected. people seem to suspect the immidiat family.

Answer 10

Probably standard procedure in a case like this.

Answer 11

As it was one of her step dads relatives that was arrested so just in case and to just shield her from everything that has gone on. Also to check that she is o.k i mean she hasn';t been sexually assaulted.

Answer 12

Without knowing factual details, but assuming the media have some accurate information, it would seem the person who appears to have been harbouring/holding Shannon has some link to the family. An EPO would be applied for incase there was a risk of her being abducted/taken again. The police and authorities will need to ascertain no other family members had colluded with the person who took her.

Answer 13

Leave it alone. The child's been found. Let the courts and social services sort it out.

Answer 14

obviously they need to know if she was there on her own free will or taken.  dont forget she was thinking of running away so maybe thats what she done and went to this man for help but then both got scared of all the coverage and didnt know what to do.  or maybe she was taken and so the police and child protection need to make sure that it was only this guy involved and to see what she has been through.  Also if she talked about running away before this they will want to know why.

Answer 15

Because the police very much want to talk to her on her own, and find out why she was hiding from them under the bed.  But they can't arrest her because she hasn't done anything much...

So they have kept her locked away 'for her protection'.

Answer 16

Because the creep who took her is related to her stepfather.

Answer 17

As someone who served in the police and now Social Services, this didnt surprise me. The point is for a safe prosecution to procede, Shannon must be able to offer the answers to the questions that will be posed to her in a safe and controlled situation. Away from all the obvious questions, and take on things that her family etc will UNKNOWINGLY influence her with. Sadly certain examinations will need to be done, and as a result she cant go home yet. Though family contact will be able to continue whilst she is in care, that contact (as hard as it must appear to the outside must be limited) I doubt very much that the police and social services have any concerns about her family, or her situation within that family. If the guy is going to be sentenced the conviction must be safe, and if that takes a few more days away from her family then unfortunately thats a price that MUST be paid. Im sure her family and friends would agree

Answer 18

When the mothers relative was interviewed the other week she stated that shannons stepfather was hitting and punching the children shannon included, the mother was also sporting a black eye in some of the interviews which the relative verified was done by yet another bust up involving the two of them shannon told her she hated living there because of him, (this was also in the sunday tabloids) If they think that there is some kind of abuse they will keep her for this purpose.......

Answer 19

The man found with her, was probably linked to the mother some how, boyfriend or ex etc. Social services would need to ascertain that the mother is not also a threat, it may only be temporary

Answer 20

it also says on sky news that the man whose residence Shannon was found in is known to police.

Answer 21

because they cant just hand her over just like that!  She has been god knows where for 3 weeks, they need to examine her mental state, physical state etc.  They need to get to the bottom of whether she ran away or was taken, they need to ask her what her home life is like etc etc.  The police are correct in doing this its all part of child protection.  When they eventually hand her over she will still be under social services care who will visit her constantly until they are sure that she is happy, content and in a safe environment.  This could tak months

Answer 22

We'll know the answer in the fullness of time. but my guess is that it may not be the person that she was found with that was a threat to her.

If I'm wrong I apologise but it's a gut feeling that the threat was closer to home!

Answer 23

She needs protecting, and the only ones who can protect her at this time is the police and Social Services.

Answer 24

to keep her from the media sharks