Press Release 

Families Need Fathers: Shared parenting makes children safer

• Recent reports wrongly depict fathers as “Murderously self-pitying “
• Unfortunately, mothers are about as likely to murder children as fathers
• The best protection for children is shared parenting

15 November 2006 – There has been a flurry of publicity in the last few days about fathers who have murdered their children. What the reports ignore is that mothers are about as likely to murder their children as fathers are. They also fail to mention that the involvement of both parents in the children’s lives is the best guarantee of safety. The National Society for the Protection of Children wrote in a letter to The Sunday Times that national crime statistics show that “killings of children by a natural parent are committed in almost equal proportions by mothers (47%) and fathers (53%).” India Knight’s column of 5 November, titled “Murderously self-pitying fathers,” misleadingly stated “Research published by the NSPCC last month showed that a father kills a family member every eight weeks in the UK.” Ms. Knight failed to mention the other side of the equation.

FNF believes the single biggest single cause of child abuse is not wickedness or misdirected vengeance by a parent in the midst or immediate aftermath of a martial break-up. The single biggest cause of child abuse is carers who crack under the pressure of the relentless demands of children, often in adverse circumstances. This is part of the rationale for government support of voluntary agencies, day care facilities, family centres and the like. However, when it comes to proposals of shared care between parents, gender politics kicks in, and this is portrayed as putting children in the care of potentially dangerous people.

“Shared parenting is probably the biggest single resource available to promote child safety,” said John Baker, chairman of Families Need Fathers. “A change in the law to make shared care the norm in Britain, rather than the exception, wouldn’t cost the Government a single penny. Shared care should not be the once-in-a-blue-moon exception it is today.”

“FNF urges Parliament to make its will clear on this issue by changing the law in favour of children and their right to shared care by both parents,” Mr. Baker said.

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Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. Founded in 1975, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

Please see Families Need Fathers ‘programme for change’ Father’s Day Manifesto