Tuesday
4th February 2003
Ipswich
Protesters Caught “Purple Handed”
Three
protesters from the campaign group
Fathers-4-Justice were today arrested after painting the door of
the Ipswich Office of the Children & Family Court Advisory &
Support Service (CAFCASS) purple.
The
protesters, Mr Matthew O’Connor, Mr Shaun O’Connell
& Ms Sarah Ashford were arrested shortly before 12:00 today.
The action was taken in protest at CAFCASS’s
inaccurate and biased Court Welfare Reports. These
result in the complete severance of the parent/child
relationship for no good reason.
Fathers
4 Justice say that purple is the international colour of
equality.
Spokesman Matthew O’Connor said
that the group not only represents fathers, but also mothers and
grandparents, all of whom want
to be treated equally by CAFCASS and the Family Courts. Said
Mr O’Connor “Many parents feel that it is time to ‘redecorate’
the balance of justice".
The
action comes after a damning dossier was released on CAFCASS including
the following disturbing facts:
1. The
majority of CAFCASS Officers are ex Probation Officers
used to dealing with hardened criminals.
2. Only
1 in 7 CAFCASS Officers has received any training.
3. They
have NO formal qualifications.
4. Shockingly,
the training consists of just one 2 day course – less
than a Parking Warden. There is NO official training
budget whatsoever.
5. CAFCASS
has NO defined guidelines and NO complaints procedure.
6. CAFCASS
keep NO records and do not research into the outcomes
of the cases they have been involved in (eg figures on
children's suicide and teenage pregnancy five years after
CAFCASS involvement). This means they have NO way of
knowing whether they are achieving the best outcomes
for children and their parents.
7. To
further compound problems, massive numbers of CWOs are
leaving because of these problems. CAFCASS faces a major
recruitment crisis.
8. According
to Dr Buchanan, Head of the Family Division Research
Team at Oxford University, CAFCASS handles around 35,000
cases each year affecting an estimated 80 – 100,000
children per annum.
9. This
equates to over a million children in the past decade
alone.
10. According
to Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, President of the Family
Division, 40% of fathers lose contact with their children
after 2 years. We believe this results from the actions
of the Family Courts.
11.
Anthony Hewson, the Chairman of CAFCASS, and Ipswich
Team Manager Judith Hubert, are now trying to put a gloss
on CAFCASS. They ‘may’ introduce new national
standards and complaints procedures in 2003. Many critics
believe that not only will this be too little too late
for many families. It still does not address the CAFCASS
staff's complete lack of appropriate
training for dealing with sensitive family matters.
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The
group of eight protesters, who arrived shortly before 11.00
this morning, unfurled banners and handed out leaflets to passers
by. Meanwhile, other members commenced painting the CAFCASS office
door.
The group stated: “whilst we are not
trained as painters and decorators, neither are CAFCASS staff
trained for their role of
offering advice to the courts in contact disputes”.
Spokesman
Mr O’Connor said: “Anecdotal evidence suggests
that CAFCASS Officers are allowed to exercise their discretion,
using
their own prejudices about individual parents, totally unchecked.
It is absolute madness.”
As
he was led away, Mr O’Connor said: “We want to send
out a warning to parents around the Country that they are at
risk of
being denied access to their children in the event that when a
relationship between parents breaks down, they find themselves
at the mercy of
Cafcass and the Family Courts.” read
more >
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Sarah
"Bionic" Ashford, the first women to get arrested during
the current wave of anti-CAFCASS protests, gets visit from
CID officers at her home.
She appears in deep trouble
related
to CAFCASS
once again. She will surrender herself to the
local police station once she is able to get hold of her
solicitor.
Read
the latest news about the much loved and respected
Sarah "Bionic" Ashford.
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The
father concerned in his fight for justice in the UK
courts for his children has refused to pay council
tax to
fund their gender bias.
The
council, acting unlawfully have taken the matter to the
magistrates court, and he has been
given a three hour hearing on April 16th 2004
at Portsmouth magistrates court in a public hearing of the
wrong-doing by those in Authority.
The
defences will be sections 6 and 7 of the human rights
Act 1998 and
the
common law right to do as you please. The council have
been contracted for 900 000 000 000 000 000 pounds
for theft of his rights. All interested public welcome. |
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Father
refuses to take part in trial once the UK Judge refuses
him the right to call the witnesses in his defense. Next
move: Judicial Review against judges decision.
 Click
the picture to read full account
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END
OF 2003:...
still winning. |
Up-coming
2004 Media Spectacles:
1) A four day hearing from feb
23d to 26th at Ipswich
Crown Court.
2) Permission for witnesses to be heard on human rights
issues (was given Dec o5 2003).
3) The very experienced human rights expert Dr.kartar Badsha
will be the
legal advisor on the days.
4) Six witnesses for the State will be present for cross
examination, including a traffic
warden and Cafcass Officers
5) TV and video as well as tape recorder will be present
multi-media exhibits can be shown via CD in laptop(
Shaun :)
Want
to speak out about what happened to you in UK's Family Courts?
Call 07719020208
so we can discuss your chance to give evidence under oath at Ipswich
Crown Court,
or slow mail:
6,The Towers, Forton
Rd, Gosport Hampshire PO123HA.
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2003:
The three protesters were in Ipswich Magistrates Court on
Wednesday the 18th June 2003. Sara pleaded not guilty. The
other two demanded a jury
trial on the grounds of rampant discrimination against fathers
by judges in the UK. |
Hope
for Children
CAFCASS Worker gets sentenced for perjury. perverting the course of Justice,
lies and abusing position of trust. Read story
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