Family Courts 'transparency' claim questioned

Govt to 'open' Family Courts

Wednesday, 20, Jun 2007 12:00

The government has promised to improve openness in Family Courts, but said it will still protect the privacy of those involved.

Ministry of Justice secretary Lord Falconer unveiled proposals designed to improve transparency in the Family Courts system.

However, the recommendations were criticised by some campaigners for not going far enough to hold social workers and officials to account and barring parents from discussing their case.

Lord Falconer said it was important to protect the privacy of those involved in the Courts, including children.

He said: "Family courts make far-reaching decisions which permanently affect the lives of the people involved. Where children are involved, their welfare must be of paramount importance.

"We will focus on providing better information about family proceedings to the public. In certain cases we will give more information to the people involved in proceedings, including to adults who were involved in family proceedings when they were children."

After meeting with children, Lord Falconer claimed many are concerned the media should not have an automatic right to attend Court hearings to protect their privacy and anonymity.

Reforms will therefore focus on the information coming out of courts, rather than who can go in.

In a pilot scheme, courts will provide more information on how they reach decisions, including for people who went through the system as children.

In extreme cases, for example if a child is permanently removed from their parents, courts will consider releasing an anonymous transcript or summary.

The Ministry of Justice will also create a new information hub providing people with simple information on Family Courts and what they do.

Campaigners complain, however, that the reforms do not go far enough and do not protect parents against a miscarriage of justice.

John Hamming MP, chairman of Justice for Families, said the proposals risked increasing secrecy in Family Courts and do not allow parents to campaign against decisions.

Mr Hamming said: "The government is actually proposing more secrecy in family court proceedings than exists at the moment.

"There are clearly masses of miscarriages of justice. However, the government wants to prevent parents campaigning against the miscarriages of justice by preventing parents talking about their children after a court case."

He alleged babies are taken into care to meet adoption targets and the government's response is to mould the system to stop people complaining about it.

"The secrecy in the Family Courts acts generally to protect misbehaviour by some professionals rather than children," Mr Hammond concluded.

Campaign group Families Need Fathers also claimed the proposals do not go far enough and will not restore public confidence in the Family Courts system.