What the papers say - Family Law, family rights and related matters If you come across an article which we've missed, please email a copy of the link to enquiries@thecustodyminefield.com 03.07.09 The Times: 'Family Courts in Crisis says Sir Mark Potter' - Frances Gibb TCM Comment: At the start of the year, I wrote articles for both the McKenzie Magazine and Grandparents' Times predicting that 2009 would see a crisis in the courts caused by cutbacks. Six months later, the fallout starts. Similar issues face CAFCASS, and are detailed on our CAFCASS Reporting page. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31.03.09 Sunday Times: 'Court takes child of Stupid Mother' - Daniel Foggo TCM Comment: Despite the mother having the support of her family in the upbringing of the child, a leading psychiatrist questioning an earlier report, the court of appeal upheld the decision to remove the child. 15.02.09 The Independent: 'Justice Ministry to bar parents from telling their own stories' - Matthew Bell TCM Comment: Media access to the family courts approaches, but not without a cost. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29.03.09 The Times: 'CAFCASS Chief Anthony Douglas called to account by Judge' - Frances Gibb TCM Comment: Delays to CAFCASS reporting are unacceptable. We've been aware of this for some considerable time, and forecast in January that things were likely to get worse due to the fallout from the Baby P case (a sudden rush by Local Authorities to place children in care after the number of applications had fallen due to a massive increase in court application fees from £150 to £4,875) and increased workload from the Children and Adoption Act 2006 (which came into force in December 2008). THE DELAYS How long courts wait for Cafcass reports: Bristol 26-34 weeks, Basingstoke 15 weeks, Southampton 16 weeks, Aldershot 17 weeks, Bournemouth 17 weeks or more, Gloucester 20 weeks and no date now given in many cases, Portsmouth up to 22 weeks, Trowbridge 34 to 40 weeks New guidance announced in July 2009 by the President to cut delays. Further information on our CAFCASS Reporting page. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.02.09 The Daily Mail: 'Couple told they cannot have their children back after being wrongfully accused of abuse to take court battle to Europe' - Tom Kelly 29.01.09 The Daily Mail: A response from the Grandparents' Association - Peter Harris, Chair of the GA 29.01.09 The Daily Mail: 'Social Services stasi should hang their heads in shame' - Amanda Platell 29.01.09 The Daily Mail: 'They say we're too old to care for our grandchildren' - Graham Grant and Marcello Mega TCM Comment: The issue highlighted in this article isn't that the grandchildren were adopted by a male couple but that Social Services refused a 46 and 59 year old grandparents' desire to look after the children because 'they were too old'. The grandparents were blackmailed into dropping the fight to provide care themselves when told that they risked never seeing the grandchildren again, as opposed to only seeing them twice a year if they dropped their case. All 'professionals' involved in this case should be suspended pending a very public judicial review. Madness! Gordon Brown did not marry until the age of 50. He has two children. One wonders when Social Services will be knocking on the door of No.10 to take them into care. Perhaps it's time to bring in psychometic and psychological testing for professionals to weed out the undesirable, the incapable and the downright dangerous. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.01.09 The Telegraph: 'Child abuse won't be overcome until we define what it is' - Telegraph View 09.01.09 The Times: 'This blind faith in experts fails family justice' - Camilla Cavendish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17.12.08 The Times: 'How The Times helped right a wrong' - Camilla Cavendish 17.12.08 The Times: 'Access all areas for media so justice is seen to be done' - Frances Gibb TCM Comment: Not quite all areas, and not without restrictions, and not without some precedents on openness being overturned, such as the case law in Clayton v Clayton, and we still wait to see if experts will be named. The proof will be in the pudding. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.12.08 The Times: 'Innocent but presumed guilty - the first article' - Camilla Cavendish 09.12.08 The Times: 'Bar chair: vulnerable children 'at risk' after legal cuts' - Frances Gibb 05.12.08 The Telegraph: 'Parents who block estranged spouses from seeing children face community punishment' - Martin Beckford 23.11.08 The Guardian: 'Baby P's legacy must be better status for children's social workers' - Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of CAFCASS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19.11.08 Family Law Week: 'Lord Laming to report on child protection in early 2009' 18.11.08 BBC News: 'Child protection plans revealed' 17.11.08 Family Law Week: 'Hedley J: No good reason to prevent press access to the courts' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17.11.08 The Telegraph: 'Tories to make it harder to divorce' - Robert Winnett TCM Comment: Under the proposals Britain's family laws will be reformed to prevent children whose parents do split up from losing contact with their fathers and grandparents. Well done to Ian Duncan-Smith for his work on this and his Centre for Social Justice. 04.11.08 The Independent: '600 legal aid jobs face axe as offices close' - Alan Jones 01.11.08 The Times: 'Law could become the preserve of the privileged few once more, says Bar' - Frances Gibb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.11.08 The Telegraph: 'Child Protections system needs to be improved for children' - Ben Leapman 11.11.08 The Telegraph: 'Lesley Garner's Lifeclass: The failure of my son's marriages is hurting me too' - Lesley Garner 06.11.08 Family Law Week: 'Applications in the Magistrates Court to enforce contact orders' 01.11.08 The Times: 'The press need to be allowed the right to report openly, and sensitively on family law injustices' 31.10.08 The Times: 'Putting a price on parental responsibility' - Rosemary Bennett 31.10.08 The Times: 'How healthy is the Bar?' - Frances Gibb Quote: 'Lucy Theis, QC, of the Family Law Bar Association, gives warning that proposed cuts will "have an adverse impact on the family justice system which is not in the public interest". She says: "It is the parents and children with no voice who will be left with either no representation or no experienced representation when the state wants to take their children into care. It is that stark." ' 25.10.08 The Daily Mail: 'Islamic Courts cleared to deal with family and divorce disputes as Government endorse sharia' - Steve Dougherty 23.10.08 The Times: 'Reforms threaten family courts' - Frances Gibb 21.10.08 The Independent: 'The Big Question: What would be the result of opening family courts up to the public gaze' 21.10.08 The Daily Mail: 'Ministers pledge to reduce secrecy of the family courts' - Steve Doughty 15.10.08 The Times: 'Jack Straw's cutbacks will be mirrored across the rest of government' - Jill Sherman, Richard Ford and Frances Gibb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20.10.08 BBC News: 'Open family courts says Judge' 20.10.08 The Times: 'Media must be allowed into family courts says Sir Mark Potter' - Frances Gibb TCM Comment: Sir Mark Potter is to be applauded for agreeing to this change. Public confidence in the courts has been damaged, and it is only through openness and a willingness to embrace change and reform family law and practice that confidence can be rebuilt. Few dispute that for society to function properly, there must be faith in the legal system. My sincere thanks goes to journalists such as Camilla Cavendish who have done so much to highlight these issues to a previously unaware public. I do not doubt that the senior members of the judiciary have been similarly unaware of some of what transpires in the lower courts, and believe that their desire for a system which is beyond reproach is genuine. This is an important first step on the road to regaining confidence. The next steps? On my Christmas list this year is: A complete review of leave to remove case law and a presumption of leave to remove being refused unless it can be proven to be in the CHILD'S best interests rather than the resident parents; psychological research into the effects on children of leave to remove being granted (the charity REUNITE is working this); shared residence becoming common and the terms 'contact parent' and 'non-resident parent' being consigned to history; the extended family having an automatic right to make applications to the court for contact and their being automatically included in care and adoption proceedings; CAFCASS to be properly resourced; greater training for CAFCASS Officers so their officers follow practice guidelines (well done to OfSTeD in 2008 for highlighting the problems which so many of us have known for years); no CAFCASS investigation taking more than 4 weeks; intimidating combined courts not being used for private law proceedings; NYAS to remain untouched by new legal aid funding proposals; legal aid funding restrictions to be overturned; greater resources for the courts and the planned closures of courts to be abolished; fully funded mandatory mediation and a report prepared for the court by the mediator setting out the results of mediation and detailing each parent's willingness to participate. Openness is an important step forward, but only the first step on what is a long and uneven road. We wait to see if the measures included in the Children and Adoption Act 2006 which come into force this December will be used. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20.10.08 The Times: 'Straw must take heed: no publicity, no justice for families' - Frances Gibb 20.10.08 The Times: 'More open justice for families in the courts. Minister to curb secret hearings' - Frances Gibb 20.10.08 The Times: 'In Open Court' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.10.08 The Times: '10,000 jobs go as crunch hits the public sector' - Jill Sherman TCM Comment: This is a retrograde step in improving outcomes for children and families in the courts. Mr Justice Hedley in a recent article admitted to having to read 4 lever arch files of case paperwork over a hurried sandwich before entering court. With the credit crunch, the County Courts are increasingly tied up in handling debt related proceedings. This is increasing delays to cases being heard. I fail to see how fewer courts will not lead to lengthy delays and rushed justice. This isn't in children's best interests, or families', or society's as a whole. 15.10.08 The Times: 'Legal Services cut to the bone as crunch hits' - Frances Gibb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 01.10.08 The Telegraph: 'Children who spend time with their fathers have a higher IQ' - Urmee Kham Extract: Dr Daniel Nettle, who led the research, said: "What was surprising about this research was the real sizeable difference in the progress of children who benefited from paternal interest and how thirty years later, people whose dads were involved are more upwardly mobile. "The data suggest that having a second adult involved during childhood produces benefits in terms of skills and abilities that endure throughout adult life," he added. 29.09.08 The Times: 'How can the courts do more to help fathers' - Frances Gibb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18.09.08 The Times: 'I do not remove a child unless it is the right thing to do' - Frances Gibb TCM: "Presented with four lever-arch files, Mr Justice Hedley had just minutes to grapple with the new case. In one month he has dealt with about 100 such cases. All require crucial decisions. He snatched a sandwich and roughed out a judgment." Once can't help wondering if justice is served, or suffers indigestion. The courts need greater resources. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.09.08 BBC News: "Father condemns actions of court" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 07.09.08 The Observer: 'Penalties for partners who block child access' by Jamie Doward Comment by Jon Davies, CEO of Families Need Fathers: 'The court system is so slow and adversarial and the punishments for disobeying so seldom used that people feel they can get away with stopping a father or a mother from seeing their child,' said Jon Davies, chief executive of Families Need Fathers. 'But we are sceptical about these new laws. What we need is a change to the adversarial court system. We need to stop people going to court in the first place.' Enforcing Contact: The views of the legal profession in Family Law Week. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05.08.08 Community Care Website: 'CAFCASS Chief Executive vows third damning Ofsted report this year will be the last' TCM Comment: Is a goal of CAFCASS achieving 'adequate' standards enough? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18.07.08 The Times: 'Closed-court system' - Letters section -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A series of eight articles discussing the current state of affairs in our family courts, and The Times' campaign for judicial and legislative reform. We applaud them for taking this stance, the journalists for their excellant research and balanced views, and the editorial team for devoting such a substantial coverage to this subject. 06.07.08 The Times: 'The Secret Court that steals our family' - by Camilla Cavendish 07.07.08 The Times: 'The hidden untouchables' - by Camilla Cavendish 07.07.08 The Times: 'A conspiracy of silence' 09.07.08 The Times: 'Transparency in the family courts' - by Camilla Cavendish 09.07.08 The Times: 'Justice can't be done in secret. And here's why' - by Daniel Finkelstein 10.07.08 The Times: 'Europe to begin investigation of secrecy in family courts' - Camilla Cavendish & Sam Coates 10.07.08 The Times: 'What we can do to protect our children' - by Camilla Cavendish 11.07.08 The Times 'Family justice is private - not secretive' - A reply by Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division 16.07.08 The Times: 'The family court system must protect children' - A reply by Cafcass and the Legal Services Commission 17.07.08 The Times: 'A moving response to our family justice campaign' - by Camilla Cavendish 18.07.08 The Times: 'Closed-court system' - John Batt, solicitor TCM Comment: There is a comment made by a reader of Sir Mark Potter's reply to The Times which sums up my thoughts: 'There is perhaps a subtle distinction that is being missed on the concept of Privacy; no parent going through these proceedings wants to 'air their dirty linen in public' but would like there to be a balance between privacy and transparency, which at present, there is not.' Natasha Phillips of Virginia Water. Sir Mark Potter cannot defend family law when Judges rely heavily on section 7 reports, and CAFCASS (the organisation that prepares them) has been damned by three Ofsted reports in a row. He cannot suggest that the Courts are robust when there is no data to support that view. Aside from appeal a court's decision which most parents cannot afford, there is no scrutiny or quality control of judicial judgments and discretion. Such things are deliberately excluded from the remit of the Office for Judicial Complaint. I do not suggest that there are Judges who are on a crusade against parents. I do, however, firmly believe that there are some judges who are arrogant, who prejudge cases, who do not read case paperwork, who are unaware of the authorities from higher courts, who make basic mistakes in law, who are unaware of guidance set out in documents such as 'Every Parent Matters' or CAFCASS's own policy set out in their document 'Contact Principles and Guidance'. As an example of judicial confusion, the first quotation is from those guidelines, the second are comments made by two senior judges in 2007/8: "Where the child is remaining in the family and risk is not a significant concern, approach the assessment with the expectation that each parent will share significantly in the post-separation parenting of their child/ren. This will involve consideration of shared residence and `involved parenting' i.e. significant staying contact. 50/50 care arrangements should be approached with particular caution, but recognise that research suggests substantial shared arrangements in the right circumstances can be successful and meet children's needs." 'This Court rarely makes shared residence orders.' 'Shared residence orders are only made when parents are in agreement.' The second comment has been challenged successfully in a number of appeal cases, but the same incorrect interpretation of the law is still being made. If parents cannot afford to appeal, or are 'warned off' making an appeal by their legal counsel (as commonly happens), such mistakes in law will not be corrected. Any member of the judiciary should be aware that where parents are in agreement the 'no order principle' applies and no order should be made made. One would hope that all senior Judges would be aware of this, but sadly not. I accept there are many judges and CAFCASS Officers who are committed, care deeply about their work, and who serve justice well. It is the inconsistency in standards which is the problem. When professionals are arrogant or poorly trained, it sadly damages the reputation of the profession as a whole. Anthony Douglas of Cafcass has his work cut out in turning around CAFCASS, and it concerns me that the Government has tied his hands. I believe that at senior level, there is a will to change, but we routinely see officers on the ground who are either resistent to, or ignorant of the service guidelines. Inadequate resources and a lack of manpower undoubtedly is demoralising to officers on the ground. Mr Douglas has admitted in the past that the service remains in its infancy, and in terms of progress, could best be compared to a 7 year old in terms of how the service is developing. While the service takes ten years in approaching some degree of competence and maturity, many children and their families will suffer due to the services' inadequacies. The response by the Legal Services Commission ignores the fact there is a scarcity of solicitors willing to carry out legal aid work. It was only a year ago that there was a news item concerning there only being two firms of solicitors in an entire county that would carry out legally funded work. I recommend you read Daniel Finkelstein's article on 'social dissonance' (see above). Sir Mark appears to be suffering from this common malady and still believing that it is only men in lycra who are critical of family law. Those men are now joined by broadsheet journalists, politicians, Judges, Ofsted, ex social workers and Cafcass Officers, charities and even family law authors. The Council of Europe are now scrutinising our family law. The time when heads can be buried in sand has passed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 07.07.08 The Times: 'A Conspiracy of Silence' - by Camilla Cavendish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19.06.08 The Daily Mail: 'Barristers 'exploiting misery' as fees in family law cases rise 25% in 5 years' - by Steve Doughty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17.06.08 The Times: 'My ex-wife has turned our kids against me' - advice from Dr Tanya Byron -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.06.08 The Lawyer.com: 'Law Commission drags heels on divorce reform' - by Katy Dowell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.06.08 The Times: 'Family courts out of touch says judge' - by Frances Gibb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.06.08 The News & Star: 'A Grandparent has no automatic rights. That doesn't make sense' - Article about the TCM Campaign -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03.06.08 The Telegraph: 'Mothers to name child's father on birth certificate' - by Rosa Prince -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03.06.08 The Times: 'Mum doesn't live with us anymore' - by Catherine Bruton TCM Comment: While fathers more often experience the pain of being a non-resident parent, there are 150,000 mothers who live apart from their children. Maybe one day the Courts and parents will realise that an acrimonious legal system helps no-one, especially not the child. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28.05.08 The Times: 'Striving for maturity without pain' - by Frances Gibb (on Cafcass) 28.05.08 The Times: 'Social workers' failings put children in divorce cases at risk of abuse' - by Richard Ford TCM Comment: Articles on the failures identified by Ofsted following their inspection into CAFCASS South East. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25.05.08 The Times: 'Men are being erased from family life' - Ian Duncan Smith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22.05.08 The Times: 'Family law cuts: putting children at even more risk?' - by Frances Gibb 19.05.08 The Times: 'Barristers in family cases face big cut in fees' - Frances Gibb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 01.05.08 The Times: 'Vengeful mothers leave good fathers powerless to see child, says judge' - by Rosemary Bennett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13.04.08 The Telegraph: 'Cash Prize for council that hit adoption targets' - by Ben Leapman TCM Comment: 500,000 reasons why a local authority might choose to ignore the extended family as carers in favour of having a child taken into care and adopted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 04.04.08 The Daily Mail: 'Family life is in 'meltdown': Judge launches devastating attack on our fractured society - by Steve Doughty TCM Comment: I applaud the comments made by the Judge on the dreadful state of the family court process. Cafcass reports taking months, legal aid (once the envy of the world) being available only to a handful. A brave speech, but still one I take some issues with. As a senior Judge, I am sure that Mr Justice Coleridge worked long hours which meant that his time with his children was limited. That said, I have little doubt that he still made sure that he spent quality time with them. While I wouldn't disagee with much of what Judge Coleridge says, his failue to admit that the Courts contribute to our fractured society is a disappointment. There is nothing within the Children Act 1989 which precludes a Judge from granting shared residence. Some Judges do, some don't... some grant shared residence where the circumstances are suitable, while others express an opinion that they disagree with the principle of shared residence. There is regional variation, inconsistency, and the outcome at the courts remains a lottery. I've known married parents remain within a caustic relationship. I've known separated parents who act in their children's best interests. The problem for many is that one separating parent wishes the other to be excluded from their lives and to achieve this seeks to exclude them from the children's lives. This rarely is about the other parent's ability, but more commonly due to bitterness or sheer vindictive spite. To their aid run solicitors, barristers, poorly trained CAFCASS Officers and Judges then main inane comments such as 'Mr X, I suspect you're a possessive parent' when the poor father wants to see his children for more than two hours a fortnight. I don't believe that women act any differently to men in this. Simply at the moment more women get the 'winning ticket' than men. Charities such as MATCH (Mothers Apart from their Children) can attest that for the 10% of mothers who 'lose' residence, the effects are just as bad. Parental alienation (resident parents seeking to turn children against the non-resident parent) isn't recognised in the Courts, but ask any charity which provides support during separation and they will tell you it's commonplace. This isn't a matter of gender but a poor legal system which pays lip service to the best interests of the child while promoting an adversarial court process and a winner takes all mentality. Why is it that only one third of solicitors make divorcing or separating parents aware that mediation is an option (according to a Legal Services Commission Research document in 2007)? Could it have anything to do with lower fees when parents agree? I've known mothers walk away from solicitors shocked that they were advised to only offer one night a fortnight as a negotiation point. Hardly a good basis for frictionless co-operative parenting. When the Courts accept that a starting position of shared residence removes the motivation for bitterly contested Court cases and presents the first foundation for collaborative parenting, we might see a less fractured society. The existing legislation already allows for this. So who is to blame:
You only have to read the Government's response on the Grandparents' Rights Petition to realise that the Government does not have the slightest idea about what happens in the Courts. That said, they're all failing children, and help widen the fractures in society. I'd hope that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats and Labour's own back benchers would start to apply some pressure for change... maybe one day, when children and families are a genuine priority. Read Mr Justice Coleridge's Report in full ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14.03.08 The Telegraph: 'Give flexible leave to new parents, say Tories' - by Andrew Porter (Political Editor) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27.02.08 The Guardian: 'Get treatment or lose benefit, drug users told' - by Alan Travis 27.02.08 The Guardian: 'The new drug strategy explained' TCM Comment: Includes a suggestion that grandparents will be supported as carers while parents receive drug treatment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26.02.08 The Times: 'Family Courts and child care' - Alan Beith MP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.02.08 The Times: 'British justice: a family ruined' - by Camilla Cavendish ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20.02.08 The Guardian: 'A blow to equality' - by Zoe Williams ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.02.08 The Times: 'Protection agency staff 'left children at risk from abuse' because of errors' - Rosemary Bennett 14.02.08 The Daily Mail: 'How bungling and bureaucratic social workers are putting children's lives at risk' - Steve Doughty TCM Comment: Two articles reporting on the OFSTED investigation into the East Midlands and CAFCASS. The investigation could hardly have found more serious failures by the service, and CAFCASS Managers have been warned that the failures are not just restricted to that region but are indicative of a national failure. Links to the report and TCM detailed comments can be found by following this link: Ofsted Report into Cafcass East Midlands ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13.02.08 The Daily Mail: 'Dads DO matter: Why children brought up by BOTH parents are happier and more successful' - by Jenny Hope TCM Comment: The article refers to new research which finds that children behave better, learn more and are better adjusted if their father is involved in their lives. The research doesn't find against other forms of family makeup, but simply recognises that children do better when both parents are involved in their upbringing. Common sense at last supported by qualitative research. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.02.08 The Guardian: 'Top judges in key ruling on sharia marriage' - by Mark Townsend -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03.02.08 The Observer: 'Tories plan nurses at home for all new babies' - by Nicholas Watt TCM Comment: Perhaps if more parents were supported in the early days we'd see fewer children being taken into care. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 02.02.08 The Telegraph: 'When social workers become baby snatchers' - by Vicki Woods ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 01.02.08 The Times: 'Shortlived joy for teenage whose baby was taken away' - by Rosemary Bennett (Social Affairs Correspondent) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31.01.08 The Guardian: 'Teenager's baby returned after judge criticises social workers' - by Clare Dyer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28.01.08 The Guardian: 'I want full story on my children's murder, says father' - by Diane Taylor TCM Comment: I've included this story, not because it's a case of a mother murdering her children rather than a father, examples of both have been in the media this week. Rather, that the father is having to fight to see the report from Social Services into how they failed to keep his children safe. Hackney Council, as of this date, have warned that the full report may not be released to the family. They have a right to know. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25.01.08 Guardian America: 'The alternative to needless adoptions' - Richard Wexler (letter section) Content: Letters Section: Commentary by Richard Wexler of the American National Coalition for Child Protection Reform that John Hemming MP's concerns regarding adoption targets mirror the experiences of those in the United States - targets lead to children of poorer families being put up for adoption rather than struggling families receiving support. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24.01.08 The Times: 'Divorce doesn't have to be a disaster' - by Jane Cassidy TCM Comment: Article discussing how conflict causes children greater harm than divorce. I mention in an article I wrote that a counsellor had once said to me 'that it isn't whether parents separate that matters as much as how'. Hopefully the Government will take this onboard and remove the winner takes all culture within UK family law. The writer comments that 'divorce is a long and painful process'... made longer by the length of time couples must wait and the failure by the courts and solicitors to encourage mediation. Despite direction by the Legal Services Commission, their 2007 report found that only one in 3 separating couples were informed that mediation (rather than a hostile court battle) was an option. Perhaps warring parents generate more in the way of legal fees? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22.01.08 The Telegraph: 'Fathers take on traditional role in 'Daddy's Wars'' - by Sarah Womack (Social Affairs Correspondent) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20.01.08 The Observer: 'Fathers fight for lead role in childcare' - by Amelia Hill (Social Affairs Correspondent) TCM Comment: Article which explains the motivation for Harriet Harman's recent announcement in support of fathers taking on a greater role in childcare. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19.01.08 The Telegraph: 'Labour's adoption targets to be scrapped' - by Ben Leapman (Home Affairs Correspondent) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15.01.08 The Guardian: 'Unfit to be a mother' - by Kate Hilpern TCM Comment: 1,300 babies a year under one month old compared to 500 in 1997 are now being taken into care and subsequently adopted. A positive trend providing a more settled childhood or due to Social Services seeing this as an easier and less expensive option to providing the family with support? In how many cases could the father or grandparents have provided care while the mother got assistance and support? In how many cases were Social Services hostile to this idea? The Government targets and rewards Social Services for putting children up for adoption rather than keeping them with their biological family (close or extended). While the courts remain secret, these questions are unanswered although I know cases where grandparents weren't involved in adoption proceedings, and where the father wasn't informed that adoption proceedings were taking place. The article raises allegations from the president of the Directors of Children's Services that John Hemming MP has 'wild conspiracy theories'. It is worth noting that 21 other MPs joined John in asking for an investigation into government targets and the possible impact on the number of babies being taken into care who might have otherwise been kept with their families. Article comments by John Hemming MP, Sarah Harman, Cathy Ashley of the Family Rights Group and Anthony Douglas of Cafcass. Also worth noting is the work of District Judge Nicholas Chrichton who should be applauded. I think Anthony Douglas hits the nail on the head. A lack of funding, poor resourcing, and overstretched service, poor salaries, and inadequate training can lead to Social Workers making poor judgments decisions. Safeguards are required including the automatic inclusion of grandparents (and fathers!) in decisions about children's futures when care or adoption proceedings commence. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13.01.08 The Telegraph: 'Get rid of the law that hurts the innocent most' - by Alasdair Palmer TCM Comment: Intelligent and thought provoking article on the problems with UK family law. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11.01.2008 The Telegraph: 'Judges buckle under administrative duties' - no journalist cited. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 09.01.2008 The Times Online: 'Everybody Out' - Frances Gibb Main Points: A pilot scheme is to be launched with anonymised judgments being uploaded onto the internet. The media and other critics still want full media access and the opening up of the family courts to public scrutiny. The right of the press to attend magistrates courts for family proceedings is to be overturned. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 08.01.2008 The Guardian: 'Role of fathers not valued highly enough, says thinktank' - by Lucy Ward ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 08.01.2008 The Daily Mail: 'Men staying at home to look after children should be cultural norm, says Minister' - by Steve Doughty Main points: Harriet Harman promoting flexible working hours for men. Mention of Government funded research that suggests that fathers may not be as capable as mothers. TCM Comment: Encouraging to see Harriet Harman advocating equal roles for parents. Regarding the government research, it was found that girls performed equally well academically regardless of whether their main carer was the father or mother. In relation to boys and parental care, the research admits that there was only a small sample size used for the research, and it may be that fathers have less access to parent/toddler groups than mothers which may account for the minor variation in the research results. Read the research yourself by following this link: CMPO research on the effects of paternal care ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 08.01.08 The Guardian: 'Making a clean break' - Yvonne Roberts TCM Comment: An interesting article discussing the government's failure to introduce family law reform. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 07.01.08 The Telegraph: 'New Year is a busy time for divorce lawyers' - no journalist cited. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.12.07 The Sunday Times: 'Hold tight, Daddy wars are here' - Eleanor Mills ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13.12.07 The Times: 'Free the Grandfather One - Is it really in the public interest that a grandparent is jailed for not avoiding his grandson?' - by Camilla Cavendish -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11.12.07 The Guardian: "You haven't got mail' - Ellie Levenson Content: Article regarding the difficulties which non-resident parents face in getting information about their children's education and development from schools. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.12.07 The Guardian: 'Family Justice Policy does not work for children' - Clare Dyer (Legal Editor) Content: A more therapeutic approach to separation resolution is necessary if child welfare isn't to continue to suffer under our current system. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 09.12.07 The Sunday Times: 'Haunted by the nightmare of the secret family courts' - Sian Griffiths Content: A family's fight to see the courts opened up to scrutiny following their 18 month battle to prove their innocence against allegations of child abuse. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03.12.07 The Telegraph: 'Boys look up to footballers, not fathers' - by Stephen Adams 03.12.07 The Times: 'One in four do not consider Dad to be immediate family' - by Rosemary Bennett (Social Affairs Correspondent) Content: One child in four does not consider their father to be close family, according to a study published today. Divorce and failings in family law is cited as a cause. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26.11.07 The Guardian: 'New Court to help mothers at risk of losing their children' - Clare Dyer (Legal Editor) TCM Comment: District Judge Nicholas Crichton should be applauded for his efforts to see mothers with addiction problems offered support see parents offered early intensive intervention to help keep families together. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24.11.07 The Scotsman: 'Court slaps ban on woman giving sweets to her own grandchildren' - by Martyn McLaughlin TCM Comment: For those who think Grandparents' Rights groups want to interfere with parents' rights, read the comments by Jimmy Deuchar of Grandparents Apart. Children's welfare remains their paramount consideration and TCM and Michael Robinson fully support their goals. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24.11.07 The Scotsman: 'Mother can keep birth of child secret from father' - by Lindsay McIntosh and Stephen Howard Content: Ruling by the Court of Appeal in England which stated that the father had no right to family life (and ignored Article 8 of the Human Rights Act). A child had been born as a result of a one night stand and put up for adoption. The court ruled that the father had no right to be informed of his child's existence, or the subsequent adoption. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22.09.07 The Telegraph Magazine: 'Torn Apart' Content: An article about the difficult issue of leave to remove and the resident parent's decision to emigrate which affects 1,200 families each year. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.09.07 The Telegraph: 'Number of grandparents to swell by 2020' - by Sarah Womack (Social Affairs Correspondent). Content: One in three of us will be a grandparent by 2020. Did you know that the average age to become a grandparent for the first time was 49. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 08.09.2007 The Guardian: 'Are you ready for grandparents' rights' - by Joanna Moorhead. TCM Comment: Yes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 02.09.2007 The Telegraph: 'Secrecy culture of Social Services' - by David Harrison. Content: 'Social workers have been accused of trying to pressurise a psychiatrist into dropping his support for a pregnant woman who faces having her baby taken into care at birth.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05.08.2007 The Observer: 'Plea to help grandparents bringing up grandchildren again' -- by Jon Robins ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18.07.2007 - The Telegraph: 'Grandparents a good influence in class' - Liz Lightfoot (Education Editor) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
My sincere thanks to Jimmy Deuchars of Grandparents Apart, Lisa Cohen of Jewish Unity for Multiple Parenting and Families Need Fathers' members for sharing these articles' details.