Kirstie Allsopp reported to social services for allowing son, 15, to travel Europe solo

Kirstie Allsopp has come under fire for permitting her 15-year-old son to travel around Europe by train with a friend. Despite facing criticism and being reported to social services, she is standing firm in her choice.

The host of Location, Location, Location shared that her son, Oscar, traveled around Europe with a 16-year-old friend this summer. However, when he came back, she was contacted by a social worker who notified her that a file had been opened due to worries about child safety.

Allsopp gave a detailed explanation on her Instagram and expressed surprise that social services would become involved.

In her statement, she mentioned that she noticed a trend towards being more cautious in the UK and the US. Her experience in Switzerland has been eye-opening. Over there, similar to Japan, kids walk to school by themselves and are taught to be independent from a young age. They are entrusted to make responsible decisions.

Even though she was aware that some individuals might question her choice to allow her adolescent to journey through Europe without a guardian, she expressed her wish that "the positive aspect of this situation is that it prompts people to reflect on the liberties we enjoyed as kids, and to consider the potential negative effects of the limitations and anxieties we are placing on our children".

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In the past, she had mentioned to The Mail on Sunday that the phone call from the council made her feel nauseous and then extremely angry.

Allsopp posted on social media that Oscar had completed a long train journey around Europe and she expressed her pride in him. She also shared a message about how letting go of our fears can help our children thrive.

However, despite receiving some positive feedback, she has faced criticism for permitting the teenager to travel alone.

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Allsopp mentioned that the social worker asked about the safety measures in place for her son's travel, but she became very angry and told the social worker it was not her concern and then hung up the phone.

The television host stated that authorities did not comprehend that she had been singled out by someone falsely accusing her of neglect. She has not been informed of how the report was submitted or by whom it was made.

A case was started on Oscar by the local council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC). They mentioned that they might need to investigate further if there was another report about the situation.

She informed the Mail that the realization that this file could still exist was a devastating blow to her.

The official advised me that if there is another referral within six months and they need to visit my home again for further investigation, it is crucial to have a record of the initial referral.

That was the moment that felt like something out of a dystopian novel by George Orwell. She didn't realize the malicious intent behind it right away.

A representative for RBKC informed the newspaper: "Protecting children is our top priority. We treat all referrals with great importance and we have a legal duty to ensure the safety of children under 18."

They mentioned that it was the "typical procedure" to keep records until a child reaches their 25th birthday.