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Rapid rise in global family disputes | Rapid rise in global family disputes |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The number of international family legal disputes, in which UK courts intervene, has quadrupled in four years, a new report has shown. | |
A total of 253 cases were handled in 2012 by the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales, up from 65 in 2008. | |
Its head, Lord Justice Thorpe, said it was dealing with child abduction, adoption and forced marriage. | |
He said it was due to an increase in "international family cases". | |
The Office offers advice to judges and lawyers acting in international disputes, as well as negotiating with judges in other countries. | |
Lord Justice Thorpe, who co-wrote the report with lawyer Edward Bennett, said the rise in requests for help was down to the increasing number of international family cases coming before the courts and the increasing awareness of the Office. | |
He said co-operation between countries on family law was needed due to "globalisation, increasing movement of persons across borders, and the ever rising number of family units which are truly international". | |
One mother who took her children to France to prevent them from being taken into care was mentioned in the report. | |
The family was found living on a waterlogged caravan site, were not attending school, were not registered with a doctor and the mother had no income. | |
Following the Office's intervention, French social services stepped in and the children were safely returned, the report says. | |
In another case, the Office obtained the assurances of the Cypriot attorney general that a woman agreeing to return from Britain to Cyprus with her child would not be prosecuted by the Cypriot authorities. | |
In 2012, 127 cases involved European countries; 39 the Middle East and Asia; 35 the Caribbean, north, central and south America; 26 Africa and 15 Australia and New Zealand - according to the report. | |
A total of 11 requests were not counted as they either did not relate to an international matter or just sought generic advice. | A total of 11 requests were not counted as they either did not relate to an international matter or just sought generic advice. |
The country with the highest number of cases was Poland, with 14, followed by Pakistan (13) and Spain (12). | The country with the highest number of cases was Poland, with 14, followed by Pakistan (13) and Spain (12). |
Lord Justice Thorpe said: "We acknowledge, as would all individuals concerned or involved with family justice, the additional emotional distress that is caused to any family by the inclusion of an international dimension. | Lord Justice Thorpe said: "We acknowledge, as would all individuals concerned or involved with family justice, the additional emotional distress that is caused to any family by the inclusion of an international dimension. |
"It is incumbent upon anyone who works in such a sensitive area to try and find ways of mitigating such stress, to the extent that it is possible to do so." | "It is incumbent upon anyone who works in such a sensitive area to try and find ways of mitigating such stress, to the extent that it is possible to do so." |