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Police forces had to move twice within a short period of time
Photo: Rene Traut / IMAGO
A five-year-old boy was taken from neglected living conditions by the police and youth welfare office in Hagen on Tuesday and taken into care.
As early as Sunday morning, neighbors saw the child climbing on the roof and in the gutter of a four-story house, the police said.
However, due to a mistake by youth welfare workers, the boy was temporarily brought back to her on Monday.
"The city of Hagen very much regrets the events described surrounding the affected child," said a statement from the city.
Misjudgment in the youth welfare office
The reason was therefore a misjudgment by the specialist at the youth welfare office, who had looked after the family for a long time, and her immediate superior.
The case will be processed internally by the administration and checked under service law.
The boy was taken into care again on Tuesday morning, aware of the misjudgment.
This happened - like the first taking into care on Sunday - in agreement with the mother, it said.
On Sunday, the police found the boy locked in the children's room - with only a mattress and a bucket for his needs.
Investigations against the mother
According to the police, the mother and stepfather had opened the apartment door when the officers arrived on Sunday.
They unlocked the children's room door, which is where police found the five-year-old imprisoned.
"The overall circumstances, the conditions in the apartment and in the room, prompted the officials to call the youth welfare office."
As a police spokesman said, the child made an outwardly uninjured impression and did not appear ill.
The city confirmed on Tuesday that no health problems had been reported to the child so far.
For further clarification, it will be presented to the child protection clinic.
The 22-year-old mother is being investigated for deprivation of liberty and breach of duty of care.
She wasn't arrested.
According to the police, the stepfather, who also lives in the apartment, is not being investigated in the context of the boy.
However, he was reported because some cannabis plants were found in the attic of the house.
tfb/dpa