Protection agency staff ‘left children at risk from abuse’ because of errors – The Times

Posted February 15th, 2008 in child abuse, family courts, news by sally

“Dozens of children involved in family court cases are at risk of abuse because of ‘serious failings’ in the £100 million-a-year advisory service set up to represent their views.”

Full story

The Times, 15th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Reducing delay in child care proceedings – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 13th, 2008 in case management, delay, family courts, press releases by sally

“New guidance for the family courts aimed at reducing unnecessary delay in the care proceedings system was published by the Ministry of Justice today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 13th February 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Addiction court hears first case – BBC News

Posted January 28th, 2008 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, family courts, news by sally

“The UK’s first family drug and alcohol court is due to open in London with the aim of helping parents beat addictions so they can keep their children.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Public law family fees – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 20th, 2007 in adoption, children, consultations, family courts, fees by sally

“A consultation on the government’s strategy for developing the fees system in the civil and family courts of England and Wales. The consultation sets out proposals to:

  • make changes to court fees in relation to Public Law Children Act process
  • make changes to fees charged for Adoption proceedings.”

Public Law Family Fees Consultation Paper (PDF)

Questionnaire (Word)

Ministry of Justice, 19th December 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Care proceedings reforms – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 19th, 2007 in children, family courts, news by sally

“The government is implementing key reforms to the child care proceedings system in England and Wales, following a review of the system completed in 2006. The reforms will improve the system and provide better outcomes for children while ensuring that resources are used in a timely and effective way.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 18th December 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Family justice policy does not work for children, report says – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2007 in children, family courts, news by sally

“A key element of the government’s family justice policy is failing the children it was intended to help, a two-year study funded by the Ministry of Justice has concluded.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th December 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK’s first drug and alcohol court – BBC News

Posted November 26th, 2007 in alcohol abuse, drug offences, family courts, news by sally

“Three London councils have combined to set up the UK’s first Family Drug and Alcohol Court.”

Full story 

BBC News, 26th November 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court secrecy rules hide child abuse errors – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 13th, 2007 in child abuse, family courts, news by sally

“Shocking failures in the child protection system are being hidden by the secrecy of England’s family courts.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th August 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Courts won’t reveal rulings in adoption cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 6th, 2007 in adoption, family courts, news by sally

“Family courts are refusing to tell mothers why their babies are being taken away and put up for forced adoption.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th August 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Family courts appeal wins backing of MPs – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 30th, 2007 in family courts, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

“A campaign for a public inquiry into miscarriages of justice in family courts has won the backing of 23 MPs, writes Ben Leapman.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th July 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Faster childcare proceedings – vital for vulnerable children – HM Courts Service

Posted July 12th, 2007 in children, consultations, family courts by sally

“Consultations on proposals to speed up childcare proceedings and improve local authority applications to bring about quicker decisions on the care arrangements for vulnerable children.”

Faster childcare proceedings – vital for vulnerable children 

HM Courts Service, 11th July 2007

Source: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk

MP bids to lift secrecy in family courts – The Daily Telegraph

Posted July 9th, 2007 in adoption, family courts, news by sally

“A legal bid to lift the secrecy surrounding children taken from parents and put up for adoption has been launched by an MP.”

Full story

The Daily Telegraph, 7th July 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Ears of the Child in Family Proceedings – Speech by Lord Justice Wilson

Posted June 29th, 2007 in children, family courts by sally

The Ears of the Child in Family Proceedings (PDF)

Speech by Lord Justice Wilson, 28th June 2007

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Don’t ignore children, urges judge – The Times

Posted June 29th, 2007 in children, family courts, news by sally

“A senior family judge has urged his fellow judges to stop children from being sidelined in court proceedings so that they failed to understand what was going on.”

Full story

The Times, 29th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

More family cases go behind closed doors – The Times

Posted June 21st, 2007 in family courts, news, private hearings by sally

“Thousands of children’s care cases will be heard behind closed doors under proposals from the Lord Chancellor yesterday that extend courts’ powers to exclude the media.”

Full story

The Times, 21st June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

U-turn over plan for media in family courts – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2007 in family courts, news by sally

“The government is expected to do a U-turn today on its proposal to open up the family courts to the media, in the face of opposition from lawyers, social workers, young people and children’s organisations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The judge with children at heart – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 31st, 2007 in family courts, judges, special report by sally

“Nick Crichton takes children into care. Sitting as a full-time judge at the specialist family proceedings court in central London, he knows there is little chance that mothers will get their children back once the local authority has put them into long-term fostering or adoption.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

From start to finish – one case, one judge – The Times

Posted April 17th, 2007 in family courts, judges by sally

“If there’s a theme to his coming year in office it has to be judge power. District Judge Michael Tennant favours judges having powers to enforce orders for contact with children when flouted by parents; he favours judges being in charge of a case from start to finish; and above all he would like more resources for the courts — although that one, he accepts, is likely to remain on his wish list.”

Full story

The Times, 17th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk