A HIGH Court judge has praised a council for its “extraordinary intervention” which saved a young man’s life.

The 17-year-old boy, who police feared would head to Syria to wage jihad, has been kept alive as a result of work by a multi-agency team from Brighton and Hove City Council.

That was the analysis from High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden, who said the significant investment of time and money was justified by the outcome.

Last March the judge barred the teenager from travelling abroad – following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court – after police and social workers raised concerns about him heading to Syria.

He made the teenager a ward of court, a move which bars him from leaving the jurisdiction of England and Wales.

He said he had analysed the benefits of state intervention after reviewing the case at a follow-up hearing in London.

“There has been an extraordinary level of intervention,” said Mr Justice Hayden.

“It has kept him alive.”

He added: “The thing that one hears most is ‘why is so much time, money and effort spent in these cases? Why not just let them go?

“There is no doubt huge resources have been deployed in this case.

“And I myself have wondered whether that was proportionate.”

But at the end of the day... they have saved a human life.”

He had been told last year how council staff had learned that family members were making plans for the teenager to go on a trip to Dubai.

The judge had said he was concerned to “keep this lad alive” and said an order which barred him from travelling abroad was proportionate.

He said he had balanced the teenager’s human rights.

He added: “The balance falls clearly in protecting this young man, ultimately from himself.’’

Mr Pinaki Ghoshal, executive director for families, children and learning at Brighton and Hove City Council, praised intensive work by social workers, education experts, Sussex Police and the local authority’s legal team.

He said: “Wardship is a recognition that the young person doesn’t recognise the risks involved in what they’re doing.”

He drew comparisons with child sexual exploitation and stressed that to build trust with the boy and his family had taken a long time.

Mr Ghoshal added: “We have worked very closely with the Islamic community in the city as part of our strategy.”

THIS SUCCESS WAS DOWN TO GOOD TEAMWORK

PINAKI GHOSHAL, executive director for families, children and learning, was pleased a judge had taken the unusual step of singling out his authority for praise.

But he said a concerted effort by a big team of people had contributed to keeping this young man safe.

He told The Argus that after two young men from the city were killed fighting in Syria two years ago, the council had put more special support units in place and taken a more comprehensive multi-agency approach.

He said: “There is a stick. We took his passport away. But then you have to build a trusting relationship with frequent meetings with the person and their family.”

The young man’s case worker has visited him at home or away from family to encourage him to feel as comfortable as possible around every two weeks but many other teams have been involved.

Social workers, youth offending officers, family support teams and community safety teams have all been involved since he became a ward of the court, along with the legal team and police officers.

Mr Ghoshal said: “He’s safe. I wouldn’t say he’s a model citizen but he’s doing reasonably well, and ultimately as the judge says, he’s alive.”