FEEDBACK: FATHERS 4 JUSTICE

I note Jeff Hall has made a few negative remarks about Fathers 4 Justice and our Future Heroes Conga4Kids campaign ("Fathers ask others to pay up again", Open Lines, April 21). I would like to address his comments, such as Fathers 4 Justice being comprised of "responsibility-dodgers".Fathers 4 Justice are fathers and/or grandparents who wish to see their children, but are being prevented from doing so.

We are being prevented from doing so by spiteful mothers who put their wants before those of the children - that's irresponsible - and the current family law that is too antiquated and ambiguous, which allows it to be abused by these mothers and the courts.Every day, I speak to fathers who are at their wits' ends because they feel powerless in this system.

I, for one - as in the case of many other dads - fought for two years exactly to get to see my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.Despite no contact, I still paid maintenance - over and above the statutory requirement - privately, and not through the CSA, to my ex-wife. I now have regular contact.I trained myself in family law, as do many other dads in order that we can fight the system and win our individual cases.

Fathers 4 Justice feels that to "fund" the legal system is not in the best interests of the child, as the lawyers are the only winners in this adversarial system.Having spoken to many barristers, solicitors and judges, they agree with us.We advocate responsibility from both parents to see, support, educate, raise and love our children.

We are opposed to "responsibility-dodgers".The problem is that New Labour has done nothing to change the law or system. However, it must be said that the Tories are much more proactive on this and other social issues.In particular, my local MP, Liam Fox, has been very helpful in persuading his party members through their Social Policy Group.

We're trying to change the law where there is an automatic presumption of 50/50 child contact when partners split and compulsory mediation prior to going to the family court. Also, currently open courts are highly biased towards the mother, and are able to get away with this as they are closed to the public

With regard to our charity being for "fatherless children", we know that one in four children live in a lone-parent household, and 97 per cent of non-resident parents are fathers. However, we would like to stress that all children are included, not just fatherless children.

There are 100 children who lose contact with their dads every day in the UK. Don't you think those children need help, guidance and support? Are you aware that 70 per cent of young offenders come from lone-parent households?We feel that fatherlessness is a significant contributory factor in the social breakdown of Britain.

With regard to a distinction being made between fatherless or motherless children, we make no distinction, although it needs to be said that 97 per cent of non-resident parents are fathers. We would prefer the child to have contact with both parents.

The true measure of a nation's standing is how it attends to its children - their health and safety, their material security, their education and socialisation and their sense of being loved, valued and included in the families and societies that they are born into.This is what Fathers 4 Justice and the Future Heroes project Conga4Kids is all about.

Mr Hall, I excuse your comments, as Fathers 4 Justice has been the victim of a negative slur campaign and your views are undoubtedly tarnished by this.We are trying to help the UK have a better society for our kids' sake. Please don't knock us, and help support the helpers of children and society alike.

Nigel Ace, Fathers 4 Justice.

I WOULD like to respond to Jeff Hall's letter.

Although the activities of Fathers 4 Justice do not always give the cause a good name, you should remember that many members - far from tax-dodgers - are, in fact, decent, hard working, responsible men desperate to support their children while being denied access to them.

If you had any real knowledge of the group, you would know that in addition to fathers, the group also supports grandparents fighting for access to their grandchildren.There is, in fact, a lot more support out there for mothers (which no doubt contributes to the poor plight of fathers after relationships break down) than there is for fathers, and I personally think they deserve all the positive publicity that they can get.

Debbie Halfhide

CHILDREN need both parents and the support of the church, schools and communities to provide the social glue to hold them together.In many cases, kids have been left to run riot.

I

cannot comprehend why the police are not supporting and pushing for an automatic right for fathers to have contact with their children if the children are not at risk.

Surely it is better for them if children are having contact with fathers who want to see them rather than have them running around our streets.

Why is family law such a political blindspot? Oh yes, that's right, our Parliament is chock full of lawyers with their hands in the till.

No wonder they oppose a change.The Legal Aid bill for child contact cases this year (mainly to mothers blocking contact) will be in excess of £600 million, which you and I pay for out of our pocket through taxes.

Does that make sense?

Look carefully at the devastating recent Unicef report that put Britain near the bottom for children's wellbeing - and what are the main parties doing? Nothing.At least Fathers 4 Justice care and have set up a charity, Future Heroes, to help youngsters from fatherless families.