JUDGES and lawyers will call on ministers this weekend to act over a growing number of fathers denied access to their children in defiance of court orders.

A conference co-chaired by Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, the most senior family judge, will be told of a 20 per cent increase in contact orders made between warring parents. In 2001, the latest figures available, the courts made 55,030 contact orders, 9,000 more than 2000. In 1993 the number was 27,780.

In an estimated 50 per cent of cases at least, orders are flouted by one or other parent — usually the mother — and the courts have limited powers to bring the recalcitrant parent to heel.

Today a group of fathers dressed as Elvis Presley will deliver a giant inflatable heart to Dame Elizabeth, President of the Family Division, at the Royal Courts of Justice, which they call “heartbreak hotel”.

Fathers 4 Justice are critical of the courts which, they say, leave 40 per cent of fathers without contact with their children after two years.

Matthew O’Connor, from Cavendish, Suffolk, said that it was not only fathers who were affected, but also mothers and grandparents. “For many people the Royal Courts of Justice has become the heartbreak hotel for fathers, grandparents and some mums denied access to their kids,” he said.

“We want to send a warning to parents that they are at risk of being denied access to their children in the event that when a relationship between parents breaks down, they find themselves at the mercy of the family courts.”

The Government, represented at the conference by Rosie Winterton, Minister for Family Law in the Lord Chancellor’s Department, and co-chairman, faces criticism for failing to act on reforms put forward a year ago by a committee under Mr Justice Wall.

The judge, who will be a speaker, is expected to express his frustration that his committee’s proposals to give courts greater flexibility in handling contact disputes, including referring parents to information meetings, parenting programmes or psychiatric advice, and keeping penal sanctions as a last resort, are being ignored. He believes that there is widespread concern at the lack of facilities and resources to help courts and families to achieve solutions without resorting to fines and jail.

He sees the law as being of limited help in dealing with couples whose behaviour can be irrational. He will say that in acrimonious cases funding is needed so that children can be represented seprarately to ensure their voices are heard.

The conference has been organised by the Solicitors Family Law Association, the Family Law Bar Association and the Association of Lawyer for Child. Andrew McFarlane, QC, chairman of the Family Law Bar Association, said that the issue of contact was “an enormous and difficult problem” and one that was becoming increasingly complex.

Louisa Cross, spokesman for the Solicitors Family Law Association, said: “Most lawyers report a distinct sinking feeling when a new client arrives with a difficult contact or residence case.” The recent report, Making Contact Work, was a “golden opportunity” for the Lord Chancellor’s Department to make reforms in the support being provided for children and families when families split, she said.

Ms Winterton is expected to announce a £2.5 million boost for contact centres where supervised contact between a parent and child can take place.

Fathers losing fight for children

John is an accountant: he has been to court more than 35 times to arrange and enforce contact with his son. Contact was initially ordered at a “contact centre”, where it is supervised. However, the mother would not bring the child. He returned many times asking for the court to enforce its order, an order made in the best interests of the child, but without success. After each hearing the mother would bring the child (a son) to the contact centre for perhaps one meeting but then would stop and the whole process would begin again. In four years John saw his son about ten times. The court would not enforce its orders. Eventually he gave up.

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