BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning focuses on children’s right to speak with family law judges. Researching Reform had the privilege of talking with Sanchia Berg about the policy, what happened to it and why it was needed.
The piece includes thoughts from a boy called Oscar, who says he feels children should have the right to speak to judges and that it would make the process more friendly.
An extract from our conversation can be heard at around 0:52:00 over on BBC Radio 4’s live player, and the accompanying article on the topic can be read here.
For a summary of this policy, and its development over the last ten years, our Lexis Nexis article offers a complete history.
Many thanks to Sanchia for inviting us to share our thoughts.
Researching Reform 
Fine if “private” means private ! Children do need to speak to judges when social workers and guardians report that children do not want to return home or speak to their parents but the parents themselves state the .contrary.
Trouble is that in cases I have come across the poor child speaks to the judge with a grim faced guardian or social worker present but parents forbidden to be there.
Result is that the intimidated child agrees with the social services version !
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It’s a monstrous idea, Ian. The children have no idea of the whole-life ramifications of the decisions that they are being asked to make and it lets the professionals off the hook by allowing them to shift responsibility onto the children! It also panders to the judges’ messiah complexes, that they are the only ones wise enough to discern the children’s true wishes.
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So Mike when teenagers are begging to return home but are reported by social workers and guardians as not wanting to see their parents….. Do you really believe that these children should be silenced and prevented from coming to court ? In most cases I come across parents have not committed a crime against children but are punished for future risk Ugh “punishment without crime” should be outlawed…………
Should we ignore the Un Convention on Children’s Rights? Stop these kids revealing in court the abuse they sometimes suffer from foster families and from both staff and inmates in care homes?
When you say” the children have no idea of the whole-life ramifications of the decisions that they are being asked to make” !! What a load of jargon !They know if they are being violently abused in care you know….. So stop them telling the judge at all costs is what you seem to say Mike…………….
Have you ever thought that children miss their mummies and daddies because they love them (imperfect as they may be) ;Love is of course a word never used by social services . They prefer “bonding” like the players of Manchester United who bond but usually do not love each other!
Have a heart Mike and stop them gagging children who are desperate to be heard !
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Hi. I agree with your point. I found Cafcass to be very biased in the report that was submitted to court. Cafcass did not speak to my child, so the report filed to the court was one of the Carcass officers own opinion, not the opinion of the child. I find Carcass do not put th child first as they claim. Do you know of any groups or petitions that can be signed, so that children WILL get heard, as after all it is their future/s at stake.
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Reblogged this on Musings of a Penpusher and commented:
Children’s voices are important; they will speak the truth when not forced to keep silent by quilt-ridden adults.
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How can interested adults and children become part of making this happen? I support this and would like to be proactive in my support.
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Reblogged this on No Punishment without Crime or Bereavement without Death!.
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Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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Reblogged this on | truthaholics and commented:
Any reform must also address and punish overzealous Guardians and social workers who replace the child’s voice with their own, typically by making false, misleading and inaccurate reports to the court, incapable of withstanding objective scrutiny.
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Reblogged this on tummum's Blog.
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Pingback: BBC’s Today Programme And Researching Reform On Children’s Right To Speak To Judges | tummum's Blog
Thing is, what if the Judge’s mind is made up {against the Family} will speaking to the child matter? No it won’t coz the Judge mind is premeditated as to the result that the LA seeks. Money.. money.. money…children are cash cows in this industry
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