Justice for Families Report September 2008

Movements on Family Court Openness
Regular readers will be aware that there have been two new clauses that I have been trying to get added to the Children and Young People Bill. Sadly on Wednesday one of them was talked out. However, it is important to read the minutes of the Bill Committee where the government promise that an announcement is imminent. For more information read here. The minutes of the Bill Committee are available via the Hansard Website. The fact that so much effort was put in by the government to prevent the new clauses being voted on has to be seen as something positive as if they were going to simply vote it down they would have done so.

It is worth noting that both Liberal Democrat and Conservative Parties have been supportive.

Council of Europe Investigation
After a few hiccups the CoE investigation is back on track with a new motion to the Council of Europe. The new resolution can be seen here

European Court of Human Rights Cases
Two cases are now formally submitted to the ECtHR and a further one has the appropriate documentation from the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords that is needed to make it admissable.

Human Rights and Equalities Commission
I am meeting with this group to suggest that they should also look at human rights abuses in the Family Division.

Irish Refugees
Sam Hughes has now had her baby in Ireland and we are aware of other people looking at emigrating to avoid the Family Courts. The authorities in Ireland are being very helpful and a local charity has offered some limited support for other mothers in a similar situation. It is important for anyone considering going to Ireland to plan things. It costs something like £2,500 to get emigrated including all the costs. Although some charitable support is available from Ireland this cannot be assumed. We still have similar contacts in Sweden, but getting to Sweden is harder (and the language issues are more complex).

Practitioner's lobby
I have also been working with social workers who are concerned that the computer systems they have to use force practitioners to come to early conclusions as to the nature of a case. This is clearly part of the problem that causes the system frequently to make the wrong decisions.

Ali's media report

VANCOUVER - Vancouver police are defending a decision by officers to Taser a 16-year-old mother who wouldn't hand her baby over to social workers last Monday.

http://www.blacklistednews.com/news-1674-0-13-13--.html

A British couple whose two-month-old daughter was taken into care after a "misguided" suspicion of abuse have been awarded £8,000 in compensation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7642434.stm

A mother who bit her five-year-old son for hurting his baby sister was today jailed for five months.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1060305/Mother-jailed-BITING-year-old-son-revenge-hurting-baby-sister.html

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article4775483.ece

They fought a landmark legal case for the right to keep their youngest child after the forcible adoption of their first three children in what has been described as ‘an appalling miscarriage of justice.’ Now Mark and Nicky Webster are celebrating learning that Nicky is pregnant once more

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1046000/Baby-joy-couple-children-stolen-social-workers.html

Shannon Mathews' disappearance prompted one of the most extensive missing-persons inquiries ever mounted, involving 250 uniformed officers and 60 detectives. The investigation cost £2.7 million.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4682513.ece

Craig Meegan, 22, has been living at a secret location since he was released from custody. He was sentenced to 20 weeks in jail over images found on his computer, but was freed immediately because of the time he had spent in prison before his trial. His mother Alice confirmed he had recently attempted to kill himself. Is he guilty or is this another set up to excuse child snatching?

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Craig-Meehan-Shannon-Matthews-Mothers-Ex-Attempts-Suicide-After-Child-Porn-Conviction/Article/200809415106452?lpos=UK_News_News_Your_Way_Region_6&lid=ARTICLE_15106452_Craig_Meehan%2C_Shannon_Matthews_Mothers_Ex%2C_Attempts_Suicide_After_Child_Porn_Conviction

Jack Straw has ordered an inquiry into the loss of a computer hard drive containing the details of up to 5,000 employees of the justice system.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7602402.stm

A judge yesterday condemned social services for failing to protect a baby girl who was shaken to death by her violent father.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1055377/Baby-girl-shaken-death-violent-father-just-weeks-taken-risk-register.html

A COMPANY director who admitted 15 child sex charges has been remanded in custody after a judge at Swindon Crown Court requested a psychological report be prepared on him.

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/search/display.var.2441891.0.director_admits_15_child_sex_charges.php

In our exclusive survey, social workers reveal themselves to be unsure about professional boundaries.
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/03/109284/social-workers-confused-on-professional-boundaries.html

A frail and vulnerable man died at a private care home while inspectors were carrying out an emergency spot check, a tribunal heard yesterday.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4670229.ece

A paediatrician found guilty of serious professional misconduct after accusing a father of murdering his two baby sons has been allowed to return to child protection work.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4799598.ece

A doctor who accused the husband of solicitor Sally Clark of murdering their two babies has won his bid to be allowed to return to child protection work.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1059095/Doctor-falsely-accused-Sally-Clarks-husband-murdering-sons-cleared-work-children-again.html

Dr David Southall - A sinister time line.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/sep/22/david.southall.timeline

Lancashire County Council admitted the services had " not moved on" after the OFSTED Joint Area Review (JAR), completed in May, described services for children being looked after as "inadequate".

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Second-report-blasts-foster-care.4470878.jp

Portsmouth Cottage Homes Victims Receive Undisclosed Damages

http://www.freepressreleases..co.uk/option,com_content/task,view/id,27961/

If any of the ULR's no longer exist and for more media stories, information and support please go to Justice for families

http://justiceforfamilies.freeforums.org/

Support groups and information sites

Grandparents & Parents - Working in Harmony

http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk/

FASSIT. Families and Social Services Information Team

http://www.fassit.co.uk/

Ian Josephs

http://www.forced-adoption.com/introduction.asp