A Mum's Campaign
for Open Court
She needs your
HELP to START her campaign
Please download copies of the Petition and start campaigning to end - still
in the 21 Century - 'Secret Family Courts' Microsoft Word Document
48.0KB (49,152 bytes)
download here
Jane Davies, of Whitemill
A Carmarthenshire mum is calling for people including Welsh AM's and
National PM's to sign a petition in a campaign to end the secrecy in the
family courts.
Jane Davies, of Whitemill in West Wales, has began asking members of the
public in Carmarthen to support her in signing the petition.
Jane's campaign is for greater transparency and public access to the courts
and court records. She states new rules and legislation are needed to open
the justice system to public view.
In a telephone interview to our social affairs correspondent She said: " I
am a area organiser for the Stand Your Ground protest group, and in my
associations with the group I am aware of many users of the family court
services who are affected by this secrecy.
Jane told Fassit that "nowhere is the problem of court secrecy greater than
in the family courts.Fathers4Justice may have forced attention on the
secrecy of the family courts, but many others have suffered in silence.
Hundreds of parents have had their children taken away based on flimsy
evidence that they were not allowed to see, let alone have examined by an
independent expert. Accusations of bias, unfairness and injustice will
continue until the family courts open up. It seems that finally some judges
are getting the message. Family court hearings cannot be reported by the
press, and have come under fire by some for operating behind closed doors."
Jane, who has been collecting signatures outside the Body Shop, said
thousands of people in Wales were affected by the secrecy.
And Jane is not alone in her campaign for more transparency in family
courts.
Lord Justice Thorpe reported in The Times recently: “In so far as people may
be made anxious by the argument that privacy is cloaking injustice, I think
it would be quite healthy to remove that privacy, (and) expose the process
to public scrutiny which would reveal that it is in generally good
condition."
She added: "I understand completely the need for the protection of the
child, but on the other side, people have concerns about a secret process
that cannot be investigated by anyone.
Jane found that a family court keeps no records of outcomes of cases so we
just don’t know if the decisions they are making for thousands of families
each year are the right ones and the court as never carried out any
research? A court responsible for failing thousands of young lives each year
resulting in the social catastrophe we all witness in our country each day?
She said "Its a public disgrace the family court is not working in the
interests of children and there needs to be a complete review."
Jane's petition has the backing of Plaid's Assembly member for Carmarthen
East and Dinefwr, Rhodri Glyn Thomas. The Carmarthen journal states that
-Quote - The AM was keen for more transparency for families going through
the family courts." He also said: "I am supporting the principle of holding
public hearings in the family court as far as possible."
Jane and other supporters are now collecting signatures and the Body Shop
said they would keep a copy of her petition in the shop. but if people want
a more convenient place to sign it they can contact her on 01267 290756."
Jane hopes to collect thousands of signatures before handing the petition to
acting Children's Commissioner for Wales, Maria Battle.
Mrs Battle as taken up the position after the tragic death of Peter Clarke
recently. Mr Clarke annual reports often betrayed an impatience with
Government and its failure to move quickly enough to implement his many
recommendations for children in Wales. His death leaves a huge gap in Welsh
public life and for all those who he championed.
Please download
copies of the Petition and start campaigning to end - still in the 21
Century - 'Secret Family Courts' Microsoft Word Document 48.0KB
(49,152 bytes)
download here
Also
Mum's bid for Public Hearings
RHIANNON JONES
in the Carmarthen Journal
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/
IMPORTANT: Please write to Journalist
RHIANNON JONES who has taken a interest in the family courts and its
secrecy and may be planning other articles. Jane is hoping her campaign
will extent to all parts across the UK. - Write to Rhiannon with your views
on the family court system.
