“ The court system for dealing with contact disputes has serious faults. It tends to entrench parental attitudes rather than encouraging them to change. It is ill-adapted to deal with the difficult human dilemmas involved, notably when it comes to the enforcement of its orders. ”
Lord Justice Wall, appeal court judge
“ The project could potentially have a huge impact. With sound management, it has every chance of success. ”
Oliver Cyriax, of New Approaches to Contact
“ It's very important to take parents who are in conflict out of an adversarial system, so you can get speedier resolution and more focus on the needs of children, and a resolution which will involve both parents spending plenty of time with the children. ”
Jack O'Sullivan, of Fathers Direct
"Parents who separate will be expected to agree parenting plans that give generous time with the children for both mother and father, under government proposals to cut the number of bitter and protracted court battles over child contact.. The "early intervention" project, to be piloted this year, aims to bring parents together from the point of separation and help them to reach agreement".
"The move, a joint initiative of the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and the Department for Education and Skills, follows a growing acceptance by judges and ministers that the current system for resolving contact disputes is failing children and parents".
Perhaps the message is getting through. But there will still be entrenched opposition, from those who believe "mother cares, father pays" is a better method.