Accessing Social Services Records - UK only?

I have been trying for several years to access records that Social Services hold on me from the time that I was in care during the 1970s and 80s.





I started making a concerted effort starting last February to access the records under the Data Protection Act and Social Services were supposed to make the records available within 40 days, but this has now been going on for a year and I am still waiting.





I have written to the Borough Solicitor, the Information Commissioner and my MP, but I have yet to receive replies apart from one from the Borough Solicitor saying that they're looking into it.





I need the records urgently as the police need to have access to them now as well.





What do I have to do to force Social Services to make them available? I can't afford a solicitor. Can I make a court application by myself? How would I go about this?





Please help if you can as this is now urgent.





Please no clever or nasty comments as this is important to me.

Accessing Social Services Records - UK only?
Since it has been recognised that social services can falsify information on reports ....there getting a bit cagey about children in care especially. I dont know how to access the information but keep pushing. truth always comes out in the end.
Reply:If the Police need them then surely they can get them. can't you let them seach for the records, it will be very beasy for them to access the records you require
Reply:go to your local citizens advice bureau, their advice is free and they will help you get the documents that you need, xx, jusr also had a thought, you can contact social services and mention the freedom of information act, that should make them work faster on your request xx
Reply:You have the right to see your own records.My understanding is that your records would have been kept for years (75 years - could be wrong). they may have held on to your paper file but they may also have put the information on microfiche or something like that. It is quite some time ago so there is also the possibility that they can't find these files. these are all possibilities. They will obviously take out of the file all third party information and it is possible that what you end up with is not what you expect. This process should be very straightforward though...you request access to your file and then wait for them to invite you in to come and read them...they should keep you informed throughout the process if there are any snags. Each LA should now have a separate set of people dealing with these kinds of requests which should make this process less stressful for the person wanting to have access to their files. they cannot deny you access..it is your right.





If you feel that the LA is dismissive of your request then you can probably do this via court...What this will do is have the LA respond timeously to the courts. Before you go via that route maybe you could try one more time to speak to the Heads of Services and put your request to them and stress the importance of you getting the information...