Press Release

• CSA outrageously commits father of 5 to a 42-day jail sentence despite mother’s plea.
• Families Need Fathers strongly condemn the unfair persecution of good fathers and issue a parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Michael Cox, a lawyer and father of 5, has been jailed for refusing to pay child support to his former wife. Mr Cox, whose children spend half their lives with him, claims that he should not have to pay the Child Support Agency for the time that they spend with their mother. His former wife pleaded with magistrates not to bestow a custodial sentence due to the impact it would have on the family.

 

Families Need Fathers view the jailing of Michael Cox to be another act of insanity by a system that has failed everyone and needs to be abolished as soon a possible.

 

Jon Davies, FNF CEO, said, “It is difficult to see who can benefit from this action. Certainly not the children who are losing a father. Certainly not a mother who may have to give up work to look after the children in their father’s absence. Certainly not the father himself who will have to stop work. Certainly not the taxpayer who will have to pay for his prison stay, and most certainly not the government, the CSA or the court involved who have ended up looking ridiculous.”

 

Families Need Fathers has tabled a parliamentary question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who has responsibility for the CSA;

 

“How can the best interests of the children be served when a parent with 50% care is imprisoned? Can he make sure that the CSA is instructed not to pursue such cases in the future and that C-MEC reforms prevent this happening again.”

 

FNF asks that as his first act as Prime Minister Gordon Brown should order the immediate release of Michael Cox.

 

Note for editors: 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 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.