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| Bitter divorcees 'using children' | Bitter divorcees 'using children' |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Children in England are often caught up in vindictive legal action by divorcing parents, a survey suggests. | Children in England are often caught up in vindictive legal action by divorcing parents, a survey suggests. |
| The research was carried out by law firm Mishcon de Reya among 2,000 divorcees and a similar number of children who had experienced divorce. | The research was carried out by law firm Mishcon de Reya among 2,000 divorcees and a similar number of children who had experienced divorce. |
| Most parents said their child's welfare was their priority, but half admitted going to court over access and one in five wanted to damage their ex-partner. | Most parents said their child's welfare was their priority, but half admitted going to court over access and one in five wanted to damage their ex-partner. |
| The government said the 20-year scope of the survey meant it was out of date. | The government said the 20-year scope of the survey meant it was out of date. |
| It added that families now had counselling and practical and legal support. | It added that families now had counselling and practical and legal support. |
| High social cost | High social cost |
| The survey was carried out to mark the 20th anniversary of the Children Act, designed to improve the welfare of youngsters caught up in the middle of parental separation. | The survey was carried out to mark the 20th anniversary of the Children Act, designed to improve the welfare of youngsters caught up in the middle of parental separation. |
| It said that despite these good intentions the law was not working - with high costs in terms of litigation and social exclusion. | It said that despite these good intentions the law was not working - with high costs in terms of litigation and social exclusion. |
| The survey suggests that one in three children lose contact with their fathers after a divorce. | The survey suggests that one in three children lose contact with their fathers after a divorce. |
| Mishcon de Reya said a quarter of parents surveyed believed that their child was so traumatised by their separation that the children harmed themselves or contemplated suicide. | Mishcon de Reya said a quarter of parents surveyed believed that their child was so traumatised by their separation that the children harmed themselves or contemplated suicide. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| 'Bargaining tools' | 'Bargaining tools' |
| "Despite this, 50% admitted putting their children through an intrusive court process over access issues and living arrangements," its report said. | "Despite this, 50% admitted putting their children through an intrusive court process over access issues and living arrangements," its report said. |
| Nearly half (49%) admitted they had deliberately drawn out the legal process to secure their desired outcome. | Nearly half (49%) admitted they had deliberately drawn out the legal process to secure their desired outcome. |
| Two thirds (68%) admitted indiscriminately using their children as "bargaining tools" when they separated. | Two thirds (68%) admitted indiscriminately using their children as "bargaining tools" when they separated. |
| "A staggering 20% of separated parents admitted that they had actively set out to make their partners experience 'as unpleasant as possible' regardless of the effect this had on their children's feelings." | "A staggering 20% of separated parents admitted that they had actively set out to make their partners experience 'as unpleasant as possible' regardless of the effect this had on their children's feelings." |
| Forced to lie | Forced to lie |
| Half of the children surveyed said that their views were disregarded by both of their parents during the separation. | Half of the children surveyed said that their views were disregarded by both of their parents during the separation. |
| Some 42% had witnessed aggressive rows between their parents, and 17% violent fights. | Some 42% had witnessed aggressive rows between their parents, and 17% violent fights. |
| In almost a quarter of cases one parent forced them to lie to another. | In almost a quarter of cases one parent forced them to lie to another. |
| As a result, more than one in 12 children (8%) had considered suicide as an escape and a third had turned to drug or alcohol abuse, according to the survey. One in 10 resorted to crime. | As a result, more than one in 12 children (8%) had considered suicide as an escape and a third had turned to drug or alcohol abuse, according to the survey. One in 10 resorted to crime. |
| The firm's head of family law, Sandra Davis, said: "This research shows that despite their best intentions, parents are often using their children as emotional footballs. | The firm's head of family law, Sandra Davis, said: "This research shows that despite their best intentions, parents are often using their children as emotional footballs. |
| No-one can accuse us of standing still on this - we've created the first ever government department specifically to deal with families and children's issues England's Children's Minister Delyth Morgan | No-one can accuse us of standing still on this - we've created the first ever government department specifically to deal with families and children's issues England's Children's Minister Delyth Morgan |
| "They don't have the tools to co-parent effectively following separation and their only solution is to turn to the courts. Children - alongside the economy - are suffering because of this." | "They don't have the tools to co-parent effectively following separation and their only solution is to turn to the courts. Children - alongside the economy - are suffering because of this." |
| She called for national therapy centres to be set up. | She called for national therapy centres to be set up. |
| England's Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said: "Divorce and separation can have a devastating impact on children caught in the middle. But this survey, looking as far back as 20 years ago, simply doesn't reflect what support is available for families now. | England's Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said: "Divorce and separation can have a devastating impact on children caught in the middle. But this survey, looking as far back as 20 years ago, simply doesn't reflect what support is available for families now. |
| "No-one can accuse us of standing still on this - we've created the first ever government department specifically to deal with families and children's issues. | "No-one can accuse us of standing still on this - we've created the first ever government department specifically to deal with families and children's issues. |
| "Mediation and support can be far better for children than going through the court system because it tackles the root cause of disputes - that's why we've acted to give families comprehensive counselling, practical and legal support." | "Mediation and support can be far better for children than going through the court system because it tackles the root cause of disputes - that's why we've acted to give families comprehensive counselling, practical and legal support." |
| A consultation document on families and relationships is expected before the end of the year. | A consultation document on families and relationships is expected before the end of the year. |
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