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Family justice review calls for six-month case deadline Family justice review criticises 'shocking delays'
(about 4 hours later)
Childcare decisions in family courts should be made within six months, an official review has said.Childcare decisions in family courts should be made within six months, an official review has said.
Former senior civil servant David Norgrove's report said parents should be encouraged to make their own care arrangements when they separate. Former senior civil servant David Norgrove said family justice was slow and incoherent and children suffered "shocking delays" over decisions.
The review rules out using the law to give both parents equal access to a child. But he ruled out giving both parents equal access to a child, a key demand of fathers' rights campainers.
A government spokesman said it was vital to "radically reform" the family justice system.A government spokesman said it was vital to "radically reform" the family justice system.
In his report, former senior civil servant David Norgrove said family justice was slow, incoherent and children had to suffer "shocking delays" over decisions about where they would end up. He said parents should be encouraged to make their own care arrangements when they separate.
He said: "Every year 500,000 children and adults are involved in the family justice system. On giving equal rights of access to both parents he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Fundamentally, this is not about the rights of parents, it's about the welfare of children and we should be focused entirely on that.
"The evidence from other countries, particularly Australia, is that if you put that kind of requirement into legislation, it leads to damage to children because you put them right in the middle of those last few per cent of parents who are separating who get into really violent dispute," he added.
"Every year 500,000 children and adults are involved in the family justice system," said Mr Norgrove.
"They turn to it at times of great stress and conflict. It must deliver the best possible outcome for all the children and families who use it, because its decisions directly affect the lives and futures of all those involved, and have repercussions for society as a whole.""They turn to it at times of great stress and conflict. It must deliver the best possible outcome for all the children and families who use it, because its decisions directly affect the lives and futures of all those involved, and have repercussions for society as a whole."
Mr Norgrove's report said family justice was under huge strain with care cases on average taking more than a year to resolve. Approximately 20,000 children are currently waiting for an outcome. His report said family justice was under huge strain with care cases on average taking more than a year to resolve. Approximately 20,000 children are currently waiting for an outcome.
Last month I sat in on a typical case in the Family Courts in central London. Several young children had been removed from their mother's care and placed with foster parents. Two had serious injuries, dating back to the summer of 2010. But in October 2011, 15 months on, the children were still with their foster parents.Last month I sat in on a typical case in the Family Courts in central London. Several young children had been removed from their mother's care and placed with foster parents. Two had serious injuries, dating back to the summer of 2010. But in October 2011, 15 months on, the children were still with their foster parents.
One of the questions addressed in both Mr Norgrove's interim and final report was whether both parents should have equal rights to access to a child after a separation.One of the questions addressed in both Mr Norgrove's interim and final report was whether both parents should have equal rights to access to a child after a separation.
Mr Norgrove did not recommend a legal right in either of his reports, but the interim document had suggested ministers could use legislation to underline "the importance of the child continuing to have a meaningful relationship with both parents, alongside the need to protect the child from harm".Mr Norgrove did not recommend a legal right in either of his reports, but the interim document had suggested ministers could use legislation to underline "the importance of the child continuing to have a meaningful relationship with both parents, alongside the need to protect the child from harm".
The final report dismisses that idea, saying it could do more harm than good.The final report dismisses that idea, saying it could do more harm than good.
But Ken Sanderson, of campaign group Families Need Fathers, said: "The core failing of the current family justice system is that the rights of children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, are not adequately supported or enforced.But Ken Sanderson, of campaign group Families Need Fathers, said: "The core failing of the current family justice system is that the rights of children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, are not adequately supported or enforced.
"By choosing not to address this issue, any other proposals… will be merely superficial adjustments to a fundamentally broken system.""By choosing not to address this issue, any other proposals… will be merely superficial adjustments to a fundamentally broken system."
The report includes many proposals from the interim document, including creating a single family justice system and making courts focus on where a child goes, rather than spending time looking at the detailed care arrangements.The report includes many proposals from the interim document, including creating a single family justice system and making courts focus on where a child goes, rather than spending time looking at the detailed care arrangements.
The review said parents should use mediation and other routes to make arrangements for caring for their children and only turn to the courts as a last resort.The review said parents should use mediation and other routes to make arrangements for caring for their children and only turn to the courts as a last resort.
In its first official response to the report, the government said it would introduce a six-month deadline for decisions on the care of children.In its first official response to the report, the government said it would introduce a six-month deadline for decisions on the care of children.
"It is vital we radically reform the family justice system to tackle delay and improve the service to children," said a spokesman."It is vital we radically reform the family justice system to tackle delay and improve the service to children," said a spokesman.
"We know the amount of time it takes for a child to be adopted is unacceptable. We are already taking forward some of the review's recommendations on speeding up care cases."We know the amount of time it takes for a child to be adopted is unacceptable. We are already taking forward some of the review's recommendations on speeding up care cases.
"As set out in the Coalition Programme for Government, this government is committed to encouraging shared parenting and is firmly of the view that children should have meaningful relationships with both parents after separation."As set out in the Coalition Programme for Government, this government is committed to encouraging shared parenting and is firmly of the view that children should have meaningful relationships with both parents after separation.
"We will examine carefully the panel's recommendations as part of achieving that commitment.""We will examine carefully the panel's recommendations as part of achieving that commitment."
Have you experienced the family justice system? Send us your stories using the form below.Have you experienced the family justice system? Send us your stories using the form below.