Parents breaching contact orders could be forced to work in children’s homes

Parents who break contact orders could be forced to carry out
unpaid work in children’s homes, according to Margaret Hodge
today, writes Simeon Brody.

Margaret Hodge

The children’s minister told the joint select committee on
the Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill that the measure could
teach parents what life for children was like without contact with
their parents.

She also raised the possibility of Cafcass being given the role
of monitoring curfew orders handed down to parents who breach
contact orders.

But she told the committee she was not in favour of tagging
parents who breach orders. Instead, curfews would facilitate
contact between children and their parents rather than act as a
punishment.

The committee is likely to meet later this month.