A Mum's Campaign for Open Court


Note: Campaign Petition as now ended. A Mum's Campaign for Open Court She needs your HELP to START her campaign Published by Fassit Jan 25 2007 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. Also Mum's bid for Public Hearings RHIANNON JONES in the Carmarthen Journal Evening Post 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.
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