Petition for Radical Reform in Child Welfare Legal System

Here are copies of two statements from the Legal Aid Board, that funded solicitors to gather information for courts on children. You can read in research documents the feedback and research into this corrupt system.

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If you agree that your child is worth the common sense proposals noted below, please sign the on-line petition at the bottom of this page, and each month a copy will be forwarded to the Scottish Executive.

Proposals…

Having now read that £3 million was spent on unqualified, un-vetted court reporters, (from tax payers money) having been exposed and subjected to this shameful system, I propose that £3 million could have quiet easily have funded a family child welfare court in each jurisdiction, which could consist of the following?

•  Purpose built buildings with rooms that could be used for the following:

- Rooms for court hearings
- Room for children’s panel hearings
- Private interview rooms
- Crèche room
- Workers meeting room
- Refreshment area

•  Security guards employed full time proper CCTV in operation.

•  Crèche workers properly trained and vetted to allow guardians to attend court.

•  Specialised sheriffs who come from a background of family law, who can dress down for these hearings. Permanent sheriffs allocated to this court and to monitor and oversee the cases that are presented to them. Sheriffs and reporters have to undergo on-going training in this specialised field (read article Mothers for Justice proposed - June ‘07 research documents.)

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•  Specialised reporters trained and assigned by the Scottish Executive, or approved regulating body that have to have specialised training, and written guidelines that they work within, to gather information about families / children within these family courts.

•  Advocacy service offered to guardians of children who are working alongside reporters to safeguard the client and the reporter.

•  Proper body that will govern and handle complaints / grievances within the family court system.

•  A childlren's charter made up of policies, practices and procedures that should be adhered to when gathering information about children and working along side them.

•  Security in place in buildings that would only be used for child / family welfare cases, and there would be no fear of exposing your child’s details to unfit people or fear of any child sex offender being dealt with in the same building.

•  A comprehensive list of specialised solicitors that are competent in undertaking child / family court work, as approved by the relevant governing body.

•  Court building rooms can be used as a mediation centre in evenings and a contact centre at weekends to facilitate supervised, safe setting for parent and child to continue contact and build relations.

This is the sort of respectful system that could be put in place for children and would not cost any were near £3 million to set up and run.

Each jurisdiction could have this type of court up and running effectively. I am positive guardians of children would be assured that the Scottish Executive were committed to the best interests of their children, and instead of just talking the talk, they were following through with the walk and not just committing to lip service.

Sign the petition...