Monday 30 January 2012

Meppershall dad in rooftop demo over fathers’ rights

A DAD from Meppershall has taken part in a rooftop demonstration in Justice Secretary Ken Clarke’s constituency in support of fathers’ rights.


On Saturday, Roger Crawford, of Shefford Road, scaled the roof of a Conservative club opposite Mr Clarke’s constituency office in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire.

The 63-year-old was dressed as a court jester and was joined by fellow member of campaign group New Fathers 4 Justice, Jem Pogue.

Mr Clarke’s homes in Rushcliffe and London were simultaneously targeted by fellow members of New Fathers 4 Justice and Real Fathers for Justice.

Mr Crawford has not seen his only child, Heather, for 18 years, after what he calls “a torrid time in the family courts” fighting for visiting rights.

New Fathers 4 Justice are campaigning for fathers and mothers to have equal rights to see their children following separation.

Mr Crawford said: “Ken Clarke is our number one target. He’s Justice Secretary and almost now alone in the Cabinet in saying that no parent should have the right to see their child in law.

“The rest of the Cabinet is saying what we have been saying for years – in law every parent should have a right to see their children, unless there is a very good reason not to.”

He said Mr Clarke’s office did not make an official response to Saturday’s demonstration, but that they received a lot of support from passers-by.

Last year, in another New Fathers 4 Justice demonstration, Mr Crawford and Mr Pogue both climbed on Prime Minister David Cameron’s constituency office roof in Witney.




Angry protesters take to roof of area's Conservative Club


PROTESTERS caused a stir in the centre of West Bridgford after taking to the roof of the town's Conservative Club.


Two activists from the New Fathers for Justice group, dressed as Superman and a court jester, got on to the roof of the building in Rectory Road and remained there from around 9am until 1pm on Saturday.

They shouted through loudspeakers while around a dozen other protesters gathered beneath them on the street.

The group say they were protesting at Justice Secretary and Rushcliffe MP Ken Clarke's failure to reform family law.

Banners saying "Ken Clarke will not give fathers equal rights" and "We're fathers, not criminals" were hung from the building.

The protesters agreed to leave after they were asked to get down by the police. No arrests were made.

The group believes Mr Clarke, also MP for Rushcliffe, does not support fathers separated from their children.

Spokesperson Rich Adams said: "The whole present Family Court system is a complete pantomime farce at best.

"Fathers are being made redundant in the family courts.

"The UK family law works on the basis that no evidence is needed, the mother's word is good enough.

"If a mother or custodial parent informs the court they think the child may be at risk, the court has no alternative but to side with custodial parent usually the mother.

"It is being abused each year by unscrupulous partners to stop kind, loving and hardworking fathers from seeing their children."

Gary Roe, 44, from Heanor took part in the protest.

He said: "I'm one of the lucky ones because now I do get to see my daughter."

Mr Clarke was unavailable for comment.