Family court system is a farce, claim fathers
TWO fathers from North Devon who have faced lengthy delays with the family court system have spoken to the
Journal
after our report last week on the Children and Family Court Advisory Service (Cafcass).
We reported on the difficulties facing the service, which acts as a guardian to children.
Cafcass prepares reports for the family court in private and public cases involving parents and social services .
The
Journal
revealed that many parents are waiting months for their case to be heard.
This is because Cafcass is facing a huge increase in work after the Baby Peter child abuse case.
There is now an 18 week adjournment at North Devon Family Proceedings Court whenever a report from Cafcass is required.
But two men who spoke to the
Journal
revealed the wait can be far longer.
A 35-year-old North Devon man, who is seeking custody of his 11-year-old daughter, said proceedings are still ongoing after one year.
He said three different Cafcass officers have been involved.
The man is also unhappy that the mediation process has only entailed a one hour meeting with Cafcass at a contact centre.
The father argued that Cafcass should be visiting him and his daughter at their addresses to get a better view of the situation.
"Because Cafcass is not available the court date has been put back to September or October and social services have become involved because it can't cope with the current demand," he said.
"Over the period the case has been going through court I have had three Cafcass people because they have left through illness or found another job.
"It has been well over a year now. It is ridiculous to be honest.
"We go to mediation where they deal with it for an hour and that's it.
"But you can't tell them about your life in an hour.
"They don't come to the house and see how you are living or any problems there may be. I just want what is best for my daughter but Cafcass is not doing a thorough and proper job.
"This is playing havoc on my life and above all on my daughter's life."
Another man from Barnstaple has been seeking unsupervised contact with his three-year-old son.
At present he has six hours supervised contact every week at a centre in North Devon.
The 40-year-old recently learned it could be another 18 months before a court order for unsupervised contact is granted.
The man claimed that as his Cafcass officer left shortly before a recent hearing, a report was not ready.
He was then told it would be another six months before a new Cafcass officer was allocated to his case because he is not "high risk".
He was informed it could be a further 12 months before a report is produced.
"The judge wouldn't grant me unsupervised contact until he gets the report from Cafcass," he said.
"But Cafcass won't look at me straight away because I am not high risk, so instead I go to the bottom of the pile.
"I just want to be there for my son.
"I am fighting and fighting for him to have his dad in his life. But I am just getting knocked back with every step.
"It just seems to me the whole system is a complete farce. Court orders are not working and Cafcass are not helping the children.
"It appears to me that if you are high risk you may get to see your children quicker.
"It almost feels as if I should go out and do something wrong. It is crazy.
"I believe hundreds of people could be affected like me."
Journal editor Andy Cooper has now written to MP Jack Straw, the Secretary of State for Justice, highlighting our report on Cafcass.
15 Comments
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by Mr C. Andreou, london
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 11:50PM
“My ex abducted my kids, 1 year down the line i won my case abroad and brought them back now i have a case where cafcass are involved and suggest to me i let my kids move abroad with there mum, i have always been close with my kids and all i want is to see them. I at present have temporary custody yet what also is not fair is the fact that the hearing for all this has now been scheduled for 21 & 22/12/09. They seem to me that they now feel sorry for her and that i am the one who is doing wrong even though she abducted them and broke a court order preventing her from taking the boys out of the jurisdiction of the U.K”
by Graham, Reading
Thursday, December 03 2009, 12:51PM
“Cafcass in my case were very bad. They sided with my ex wife because she is a manic depressive and they were worried about the anxiety attacks affecting the children. Where does this leave me, up S creak without a paddle and no contact and where the children, very upset and missing their father who had always been very close and loving before me and ex split up. Social workers are worthwhile, cafcass in family law are appauling and biased and I agree with the chap earlier who said you have to be bad to get anything from them, else you get abused and thrown away as surplus to requirements, apauling gender biased and a throwback to the sixties and seventies organisation. A lot of them are ex probation officers (where the organisation originated) and see people who apply for contact as criminals.”
by Chris, somerset
Thursday, September 03 2009, 11:58PM
“Quite agree with every adverse comment about CAFCASS. Our case started in 1996 when my daughter was 3 - she's now 16. In and out of courts all that time with a different judge for every hearing.
Still unresolved after 13 years.
A farcical and miserable system which achieves nothing and damages children.”
by stacey, glastonbury
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 1:04PM
“it is true that CAFFCASS is overrun with with work, but why do the expect the families especially the children to suffer because of this? the authorities are causing emotional abuse to children by causing familes to split up, waiting for court dates, not being heard, becoming distressed etc. families who have been through the process will know exactly what i'm talking about. these people in power are supposed to be intelligent, but it's become clear they have not much common sense.”
by Terry Hunt, Worcester
Tuesday, September 01 2009, 10:20AM
“i can assure you that the incompetance of CAFCASS is not isolated to your area, it is a nationwide problem, over the years there have been many inquiries and reports written on that organisation and i have never seen one with a good word to say.
until politicians take family law seriously the problem will not go away and children will carry on suffering, sadly nothing will be done this side of an election as this governemt doesn't want to point the finger and lose votes, i.e vindictive resident mothers who deny access and cause proceedings in the family courts by the non resident father.”