Judge imposes ban after concerns raised by local council about the girls, two aged 15 and one 16, who now become wards of court

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Five teenage girls who expressed an interest in travelling to Syria have been banned from leaving the country by a high court judge.

The move came after concerns were raised by the local council about the girls, two of whom were aged 15 and three of them 16.

At a hearing in London, Mr Justice Hayden made them wards of court, which prevents them from leaving the jurisdiction of England and Wales.

The judge, who directed that the girls could not be identified, also made orders removing their passports and those of adults involved in their care.



He said he made the latter order because of evidence that, in at least one other case, young girls had travelled on passports belonging to members of their family.

There was also evidence that the family members in the case had not been full and frank with social services and that the girls had been moving to a more radicalised position.

“It seems to me that that must have been known to the parents and they deliberately did not share it with the authorities who were keen to protect these vulnerable young girls,” the judge said.

The ruling follows the case of three teenage girls from London who were filmed recently travelling to Syria via Turkey in February.

Their families pleaded for their return and criticised the Metropolitan police for their failure to stop the girls.

Earlier this week, three men were released on bail after being arrested in Turkey trying to cross into Syria. It is believed they were trying to join up with Islamic State fighters.

Hayden, who made a similar order in relation to a 16-year-old boy earlier this week, said that it was a draconian step, as was the decision to remove a passport.

“But the risk contemplated here is as grave as it can be, for it is common knowledge that so many have lost their lives in Syria and so many have gone knowing that would be likely.

“As I said early this week in another case – and I repeat it in this – sometimes the law has to intervene to protect these young people, ultimately from themselves.

“Therefore I am satisfied there is evidence of sufficient cogency and the evaluation of risk is such as to justify the orders sought.”

The girls and adults concerned, who were not in court today, can challenge the emergency ruling at a future date if they wish.