Abandoned baby Elsa is third newborn deserted by same parents

East London Family Court is taking part in a transparency pilot, which has been extended to cover almost half the family courts in England and Wales. This makes it easier for the BBC and other journalists to report cases.

The BBC and PA Media argued in court that it was a matter of public interest that the three children had been abandoned at birth by the same parents.

Carol Atkinson, the most senior judge in East London Family Court, agreed.

“Abandonment of a baby in this country is a very, very unusual event,” she said, adding that there was considerable public interest in such cases, for that reason.

She said the fact the three babies were full siblings was, for the same reason, “of enormous interest” in “our current society”.

She said that if she were to refuse reporting, it would affect the “public consciousness” of these matters, and restrict open justice in such cases.

The BBC and PA said further reporting was likely to assist the authorities in locating the children’s parents, and that highlighting the relationship would put the focus back on the children’s mother.