Cafcass Chief Executive collared at Restaurant. Real Fathers For Justice
Rffj confront Cafcass
At around 9PM last night, members of the campaign group the Real Father for Justice (Rffj) staged a protest at a busy Newcastle restaurant, where the chief executive of Cafcass, Anthony Douglas was attending a regional office Christmas party.
Cafcass is an acronym for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services, formerly known as court welfare officers (CWO's), the agency that family courts can ask to compile reports in disputed residence and contact cases, the agency has come in for heavy criticism since formation in April 2001.
Around 10 activists, some dressed in decontamination suits, stormed Santana's restaurant on Jesmond Road in Newcastle, setting off sirens and loud hailers, initially greeted by staff and guests as some kind of party act, demonstrators surrounded the Cafcass table, in front of a packed restaurant Mike Kelly confronted their boss on as to why children are abused by their services.
Rffj chair Mike Kelly said "We were tipped off that Anthony Douglas was in the region for a jolly with local Cafcass managers, we heard he was laying on a slap up meal at taxpayers' expense for staff"
"We thought we would call on Anthony Douglas while he was in the region and ask a few questions about the agencies consistent failings, after storming the restaurant he was gracious enough talk to us along with head of service in North and South of Tyne, Carole Goodman"
"Recently MP's branded Cafcass 'Not fit for purpose', we wanted to ask Anthony Douglas how long can this agency go on failing our children? How can they claim to work in the best interest of our children when they do not keep records of outcomes or produce evidence based research?"
"Cafcass say they have worked hard to raise standards and help provide good outcomes for children, Ms Goodman claimed they has received a positive Ofsted report for Newcastle region, but we know the reality nationally is they continue to have been branded inadequate in 8 out of 10 of their Ofsted inspections"
"Although we appreciate them taking time to talk to us after we interrupted their meal, the spin on how the agency's efforts are helping parents is not borne out by our members experiences"
"We expect to hear of more fathers' suicides over the festive period; 5 of our members have taken their lives this year, due to giving up after being estranged from their kids and being denied justice in the realms of secretive family courts"