You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 3.89.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪L235‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider or colocation provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 18:20, 24 March 2026.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Wiki13‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: Visit the FAQ if you are affected .
- Start of block: 13:43, 5 May 2022
- Expiry of block: 13:43, 5 May 2024
Your current IP address is 3.89.215.189. The blocked range is 3.89.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((Short description|Father's Rights Charity))
((Use British English|date=March 2017))
((Use dmy dates|date=March 2017))
((More citations needed|date=January 2014))
((Infobox organization
| name              = Fathers 4 Justice
| logo              =
| logo_caption      =
| type              =
| founded_date      = 2001
| founder           = [[Matt O'Connor (activist)|Matt O'Connor]]
| location          = [[London]], England
| origins           =
| key_people        =
| area_served       =
| product           =
| focus             =
| method            =
| revenue           =
| endowment         =
| num_volunteers    =
| num_employees     =
| num_members       =
| subsid            =
| owner             =
| Non-profit_slogan =
| homepage          = http://www.fathers-4-justice.org
| dissolved         =
))

<!-- please note this article is about the UK organisation; it is in no way affiliated to any other similarly-named or -themed organisation, so please do not add content relating to anything other than this organisation. If you feel strongly about this, the talk page is the place to discuss it-->
[[File:Day of the Dad Demo, London, Father’s Day, 2004.jpg|thumbnail|right|''Fathers 4 Justice'', Day of the Dad Demonstration, London, Father's Day, 2004]]
'''Fathers 4 Justice''' (or '''F4J''') is a [[Fathers rights|fathers’ rights]] organisation in the [[United Kingdom]]. Founded in 2001, the group aims to gain public and parliamentary support for changes in UK legislation on fathers' rights, mainly using stunts and protests, often conducted in costume.

Former F4J members, who do not agree with [[Matt O'Connor (activist)|Matt O'Connor's]] leadership, formed the [[New Fathers 4 Justice]] group, in 2008.<ref name="ReferenceB">((cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fathers-4-justice-and-the-mother-of-all-hate-campaigns-9786179.html?origin=internalSearch|title=Fathers 4 Justice and the mother of all hate campaigns?|author=Emily Dugan|date=9 October 2014|work=The Independent))</ref>

==History==
Fathers 4 Justice was founded in the UK by [[Matt O'Connor (activist)|Matt O'Connor]], a marketing consultant.<ref name="Independent">Deborah Ross [https://web.archive.org/web/20080425071613/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/matt-oconnor-the-man-behind-fathers4justice-406610.html "Matt O'Connor: The man behind Fathers4Justice"], ''The Independent'', 4 July 2006</ref> He is the sole shareholder and a director of Fathers For Justice Ltd.<ref>((cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05954235/officers|title=FATHERS FOR JUSTICE LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)|work=companieshouse.gov.uk))</ref>

Fathers For Justice stated aim is to champion the causes of equal parenting, family law reform, and equal contact for divorced parents with children. It is best known for its campaigning techniques of protest stunts, with participants often dressed as comic [[superhero]]es, and frequently climbing public buildings, bridges, and monuments.

Stunts have included supporters forcibly entering courts dressed in [[Father Christmas]] outfits, putting the Government's [[Minister for Children (United Kingdom)|Minister for Children]] in handcuffs, and group member Jason Hatch climbing onto [[Buckingham Palace]] dressed as [[Batman]].<ref name="Batman"/> They have also protested by handcuffing two other government ministers.<ref>((cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/jul/09/familyandrelationships | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Fathers 4 Justice campaigners stage protest on Harman's rooftop | first=Anil | last=Dawar | date=9 July 2008 | access-date=2 May 2010))</ref> Former members of the group have claimed Fathers4Justice/the Matt O' Connor family, have "lost its way" by being sidetracked from reforming family law, and descending into personal attacks on Twitter, [[libel]] (for which they were sued), and allegations of illegal acts such as putting an MP under [[surveillance]] and tracking her movements with a [[GPS tracking unit]].<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

==Activities==
[[File:Fathers 4 Justice in Peterborough.jpg|thumb|right|Fathers 4 Justice protesters dressed as the comic characters [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] and [[Superman]] - Peterborough, June 2010]]
On 17 December 2002, O'Connor and a small group of supporters staged their first protest by storming the [[Lord Chancellor's Office]] dressed as [[Father Christmas]]. In January 2003, O'Connor officially founded Fathers 4 Justice. The group targeted the homes of [[family court]] judges, and family lawyers' homes and offices, with protests.

On 21 October 2003, campaigners Eddie "Goldtooth" Gorecki and Jonathan "Jolly" Stanesby scaled the [[Royal Courts of Justice]], dressed respectively as [[Batman]] and [[Robin (comics)|Robin]].<ref name="Batman">((cite news | date = 21 October 2003 | title = Rooftop protest by 'caped crusaders' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3209640.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006))</ref> The following day, the group's members protested through London in a military [[tank]] in support of Goreckwi and Stanesby.<ref name="Tank">((cite news | date = 22 October 2003 | title = Rally over fathers' rights | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3212448.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006))</ref> Nine days later, David Chick climbed a ((convert|120|ft|m)) [[crane (machine)|crane]] near [[Tower Bridge]], London while dressed as [[Spider-Man]]. The [[Metropolitan Police]] set up a cordon around the area that disrupted traffic through some of East London for several days.<ref name="Spider Protest">((cite news | date = 3 November 2003 | title = Spider-Man cordon criticised | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3236541.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006))</ref> Chick was subsequently cleared of criminal charges<ref name="Spider protest">((cite news |title = Spider-Man cleared after police tactics are revealed |work = The Times |page = 5 |date = 15 May 2004))</ref> and published a [[ghostwriter|ghost-written]] [[autobiography]] in February 2006. On the morning of 22 December 2003, four campaigners — Eddie Gorecki, Jolly Stanesby, Michael Sadeh and Steve Battlershill — dressed as Father Christmas and climbed Tower Bridge in London. They hung up a banner calling for the resignation of the Minister for Children, [[Margaret Hodge]], whom they held responsible for perceived inequalities in family law. The four were charged with [[conspiracy (criminal)|conspiracy]], but the charge was dropped at the start of the trial a year later.

In 2004, Stanesby carried out a "[[citizen's arrest]]" of Hodge at a conference, handcuffing himself to her and stating: "Margaret Hodge, I'm arresting you for covering up child abuse." Both Stanseby and Jason Hatch (who had also attempted to handcuff himself to Hodge) were later cleared by a jury of charges of [[false imprisonment]].<ref>((cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7024846.stm | work=BBC News | title=Two cleared in handcuffed MP case | date=3 October 2007))</ref> On 19 May 2004, an alert was caused when two members of the group threw purple [[flour bomb]]s at [[Tony Blair]] during [[Prime Minister's Questions]] at the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].<ref name="Flour attack">((cite news | date = 19 May 2004 | title = Blair hit during Commons protest | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3728617.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006))</ref> Charged with [[Public-order crime|public order]] offences, activist Guy Harrison was fined £600,<ref>((cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3749579.stm|title=Man fined over PM flour-bombing|publisher=BBC|date=26 May 2004|access-date=4 July 2015))</ref> and Ron Davis given a [[conditional discharge]].((citation needed|date=April 2020)) Following the House of Commons incident, ''[[The Times]]'' wrote that the group "has succeeded in becoming the most prominent [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] pressure group in Britain ... within eighteen months of its founding".<ref>((cite news| author1=David Charter|author2=Sam Coates|author3=Gabriel Rozenberg|title=How protesters fooled a baroness|work=The Times|date=20 May 2004|access-date=4 July 2015|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=cam_earl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&docId=IF502877221&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0))</ref> In September 2004, member Jason Hatch climbed the walls of Buckingham Palace dressed as Batman. All charges relating to his protest were later dropped.<ref>((cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article401021.ece | location=London | work=The Times | title=Best of Times Worst of Times Jason Hatch | date=19 December 2004 | first=Anushka | last=Asthana|author-link=Anushka Asthana))</ref> Also in September, David Chick climbed the [[London Eye]], forcing the attraction to close. He was found not guilty of charges of [[Nuisance in English law|causing a public nuisance]].<ref>((cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4289091.stm | work=BBC News | title=London Eye protester not guilty | date=22 February 2005))</ref>

In May 2005, campaigners dressed as superheroes protested on top of the [[Crucible Theatre]] in [[Sheffield]] during the [[World Snooker Championship]].<ref>((cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/4497401.stm | work=BBC News | title=No charges after Crucible protest | date=30 April 2005))</ref> Five years later, campaigners interrupted an interview with [[Steve Davis]], causing the BBC to cut to a pre-recorded video segment.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3J77fAzN9Q |title=Fathers 4 Justice BBC 1 interview World Championship Snooker Steve Davis |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-04-24 |access-date=2014-01-10))</ref> Protester Ray Barry climbed [[St Peter's Collegiate Church]] in [[Wolverhampton]] on [[Father's Day#United Kingdom|Fathers Day]] in 2005. He was cleared of a charge of a public order offence, and then repeated the protest on [[Christmas Day]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-12436745.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106113544/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-12436745.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2012|title=Dad on roof for Christmas Demo: Campaigner scales church in "fight for justice"|work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]]|date=28 December 2005|access-date=2014-01-10))</ref> On 27 September 2005, protester Guy Harrison climbed the [[Palace of Westminster]] unveiling a banner stating "Does Blair care? For [[Guy Fawkes|Fawkes]] sake change family law". A jury acquitted him of the charge of committing a public nuisance offence.<ref>((cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6049588.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fathers protester wins court case | date=13 October 2006))</ref> In November 2005, the group received negative publicity when the prime-time [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] programme ''[[Tonight (1999 TV programme)|Tonight With Trevor McDonald]]'' appeared to expose some of its members as violent and obnoxious in their behaviour. However, counter-claims have been made that these individuals were never members in the first place and that the programme gave no right to reply.((Citation needed|date=September 2008)) Some members were expelled, but the organisation defended its position and attacked the documentary. On 23 November 2005, Fathers 4 Justice ended its truce with the [[Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service]] (CAFCASS) and the [[Child Support Agency]] (CPS), calling for a public inquiry into family law.((citation needed|date=January 2014))

During January 2006, the newspaper ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' published a story in which it claimed F4J members planned to kidnap [[Tony Blair#Family|Leo Blair]], the young son of former Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] "for a few hours as a symbolic gesture". The police said they were aware of such a plan,<ref>((Cite web |title=BBC Learning English ((!)) Prime Minister's son 'kidnap plot' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/01/060118_leo_blair.shtml |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=www.bbc.co.uk))</ref> but added it had probably never progressed beyond the "chattering stage".<ref name=kidnap>((cite news | date = 18 January 2006 | title = Police aware of 'Leo kidnap plot' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4622880.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006))</ref> [[Downing Street]] refused to confirm or deny the existence of a plot as it does not comment on matters concerning the prime minister's children. Founder O'Connor condemned the alleged plot and threatened to shut down the group because of it. Within days, Fathers 4 Justice had been disbanded.<ref name=disband>((cite news | date = 18 January 2006 | title = Fathers 4 Justice to end campaign | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4626106.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006))</ref> The group re-formed in May of the same year, and protested during the showing of the [[BBC]] lottery show ''[[Jet Set (game show)|The National Lottery: Jet Set]]''. The show was taken off-air for several minutes after six Fathers 4 Justice protesters ran from the audience onto the stage displaying posters.<ref name="Lottery Protest">((cite news|date=20 May 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5001386.stm |title=Lottery show delayed by protest|work=BBC News|access-date=20 May 2006))</ref> They were soon removed from the studio and the lottery draws were hurriedly finished in order to start coverage of the [[2006 Eurovision Song Contest]]. A group spokesman stated afterwards that the incident marked a "dramatic return" of Fathers 4 Justice. In March 2006, F4J member and [[Barristers in England and Wales|barrister]] Michael Cox was jailed for refusing to pay money he owed to the [[Child Support Agency]]. Cox told a hearing in Southampton he refused to pay on principle, as he had [[joint custody]] of his children, and his former wife wrote to the court in support of him.<ref>((cite news| url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article1985796.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=Father jailed for refusing to pay child maintenance despite exwifes support | first=Frances | last=Gibb | date=26 June 2007 | access-date=2 May 2010))</ref>

On 8 June 2008, two fathers from Fathers 4 Justice climbed onto the roof of [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] deputy leader [[Harriet Harman]]'s house wearing superhero-style costumes and calling themselves "Captain Conception" and "Cash Gordon". One of the pair, Mark Harris, said he wanted fathers to have the same rights as their children's mothers' new partners. He also said they would not come down unless Harman read her book, ''Family Court Hell''.<ref>((cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7442435.stm | work=BBC News | title=Man held over Harman roof protest | date=8 June 2008))</ref> Harris later received a conditional discharge, while his colleague Jolly Stanesby was jailed for two months. In the same month, Bristol Family Court was evacuated after a [[fire alarm]] was set off in the building during a F4J protest outside the building.<ref>((cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7452957.stm |title=Fathers protest at family court |work=BBC News |date=2008-06-13 |access-date=2014-02-10))</ref> On 9 July 2008, Fathers 4 Justice members Nigel Ace and Tony Ashby, this time in Spider-Man and Batman outfits, climbed Harman's roof and draped a banner that read "Stop The War On Dads".<ref>((cite news|author=Anil Dawar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/jul/09/familyandrelationships |title=Fathers 4 Justice campaigners stage protest on Harman's rooftop |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=2008-07-09 |access-date=2014-01-10))</ref> Ace, in the Spider-Man costume, called for legal reforms through a [[loudhailer]] on the roof.

In July 2011, F4J founder Matt O'Connor staged a [[hunger strike]] just outside [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]]'s home in [[Oxfordshire]], demanding that he honour what O'Connor said were pledges about [[grandparent visitation|grandparents']] rights to see their grandchildren and over [[shared parenting]].<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-14100312 |title=Fathers4Justice in David Cameron doorstep protest |work=BBC News |date=2011-07-10 |access-date=2014-02-10))</ref>

In 2012, F4J staged a [[Nudity and protest|naked protest]] inside the [[Oxford Street]] branch of retailer [[Marks and Spencer]] in order to protest the shop's advertising on parenting website [[Mumsnet]], which F4J believes "promotes gender hatred".<ref>((cite news|last=Edmonson|first=Nicholas|title=Fathers 4 Justice Stage Naked Mumsnet Protest in Marks & Spencer Oxford Street |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/316172/20120319/fathers-4-justice-naked-protest-marks-spencer.htm|access-date=25 April 2012|newspaper=International Business Times|date=19 March 2012))</ref>

In June 2013, Paul Manning glued a picture of his 11-year-old son to [[John Constable]]'s 1821 painting ''[[The Hay Wain]]'' in the [[National Gallery]] in London. Two weeks earlier, Tim Haries had spraypainted the word "Help" on a portrait of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]] at [[Westminster Abbey]]. The group's founder, Matt O'Connor, announced that he would target other art works in order to highlight his campaign.<ref name="independent.co.uk">((cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fathers4justice-vows-to-step-up-attacks-on-the-nations-artworks-8692589.html?origin=internalSearch | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Emily | last=Dugan | title=Fathers4Justice vows to step up attacks on the nation's artworks | date=7 July 2013))</ref> On 9 August 2013, Fathers 4 Justice protester Martyn Judd climbed onto the balcony of the [[Hilton Hotels|Hilton]] Birmingham Metropole Hotel to protest what he asserted to be the inequality of fathers' treatment in family court cases during a CAFCASS conference at the hotel. The protest came to an end when [[Fire sprinkler|sprinklers]] flooded the hotel.<ref>((cite news|author=Matt Lloyd |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/sprinklers-end-fathers-4-justice-5692926 |title=Sprinklers end fathers 4 justice hotel protest |work=[[Birmingham Mail]] |date=2013-08-09 |access-date=2014-01-21))</ref>

In January 2014, Fathers 4 Justice publicly withdrew support for Manning, following alleged breaches of their [[By-law|Terms & Conditions]].<ref>((cite web |url=http://www.fathers-4-justice.org/f4j-fact-check-home-truths/ |title=F4J Fact Check — Home Truths |publisher=Fathers-4-justice.org |date=2014-01-08 |access-date=2014-01-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140121093554/http://www.fathers-4-justice.org/f4j-fact-check-home-truths/ |archive-date=21 January 2014 |df=dmy-all ))</ref> On 8 January 2014, Tim Haries was found guilty of defacing the portrait of the Queen.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25656305|title=Campaigner Tim Haries guilty of defacing Queen portrait |work=BBC News|date=8 January 2014|access-date=8 January 2014))</ref> On 5 February 2014, Haries was sentenced by Judge McCreath at Southwark Crown Court to six months in custody.<ref>((Cite news |date=2014-02-05 |title=Fathers4Justice man jailed for defacing Queen portrait |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-26053161 |access-date=2023-08-05))</ref>

On 30 November 2015, two men involved with the group were arrested after a few hours of standing on the roof of Queens Gallery, an art gallery on Buckingham Palace grounds.<ref>((cite web |url=https://gma.yahoo.com/fathers-rights-protesters-scale-roof-buckingham-palace-grounds-061800954--abc-news-topstories.html |title=Fathers' Rights Protesters Scale Roof on Buckingham Palace Grounds |website=Gma.yahoo.com |date=2015-11-30 |access-date=2016-04-21 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305131800/https://gma.yahoo.com/fathers-rights-protesters-scale-roof-buckingham-palace-grounds-061800954--abc-news-topstories.html |url-status=dead ))</ref>

Three Fathers4Justice protesters stormed the stage of ITV's ''Loose Women'' shouting "No Kids No Cash", on 15 June 2016. The show was briefly taken off air.<ref>((Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jun/15/itv-loose-women-fathers-4-justice-protest-coleen-nolan |title= ITV takes Loose Women off air due to Fathers 4 Justice protest  |website=theguardian.com |date= 15 June 2016 |publisher= Guardian News and Media Limited |access-date=11 March 2017))</ref>

On 22 August 2016, Matt O’Connor, a 49-year-old campaigner for Fathers4Justice, walked on stage dressed as a priest during a live broadcast of the Rose of Tralee during Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly's interview with host [[Dáithí Ó Sé]].  He was removed from the stage by security staff before being taken away by Gardaí.<ref>((Cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/fathers4justice-protester-gatecrashes-rose-of-tralee-on-air-1.2765082 |title=Fathers4Justice protester gatecrashes Rose of Tralee on air  |website=irishtimes.com |publisher=The Irish Times |access-date=11 March 2017))</ref>

On 4 September 2018, streamed live on the Fathers4Justice Facebook page, Matt O'Connor and his fellow protester Paul Robinson staged a messy protest at an [[ASDA]] Supermarket in [[Peterborough]] by pouring Coco Pops and milk all over the floor in the cereal isle. The pair claimed that [[Kellogg's]] latest slogan "Loved By Kids, Approved By Mums" was promoting cereal discrimination against dads. The pair had paid for the items afterwards when the police were called to the protest. Several days later, Kellogg's apologised for the offence caused by their latest slogan and agreed to amend the slogan to say "Approved By Parents".<ref>((Cite web |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/police-called-as-fathers4justice-stage-messy-protest-in-peterborough-city-centre-asda-over-cereal-discrimination-999869 |title=Police called as Fathers4Justice stage messy protest in Peterborough City Centre Asda over 'cereal discrimination' |website=peterboroughtoday.co.uk |publisher=Peterborough Today |access-date=4 Feb 2024))</ref>

==Early Day Motion 210==
In June 2013, [[George Galloway]] sponsored the Shared Parenting Early Day Motion 210 in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] which mentioned Fathers4Justice:

:That this House notes that many fathers convicted of no criminal offence have very limited access to their children as a result of decisions made by the family courts following separation or divorce; further notes that the family courts operate in conditions of secrecy in which there is a lack of public accountability for the decisions they make; believes that mothers, children and fathers all have rights in relation to family contact and access where there has been family breakdown; further believes there should not be a presumption that family breakdown is the primary responsibility of either parent; further believes that where there is palpably no threat to children from their father in the context of family breakdown, the courts should try to maximise reasonable access in the interests of the children; and calls on the Government to review the operation of the family courts in general and their decision-making in relation to fathers' access to children in the context of family breakdown in particular, taking into account the testimony of the many thousands of fathers who feel their rights are being ignored or abused in relation to their children and in particular the organisation Fathers4Justice and the 36,000 families it represents.<ref>((Cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/edm/2013-14/210 |title=Early day motion 210 : SHARED PARENTING RIGHTS AND THE FAMILY COURTS |website=parliament.uk |publisher=Parliament |access-date=11 March 2017))</ref>
The Early Day Motion attracted cross-party political support from MPs including [[David Blunkett]], [[David Lammy]], [[Gerald Kaufman]], [[Frank Field (British politician)|Frank Field]], [[John Redwood]], [[John Hemming (politician)|John Hemming]] and [[Caroline Lucas]].

However, none of the signatories of the EDM, including George Galloway who sponsored it, actually spoke in the final debate on the Children & Families Bill on 10 February 2014, or objected to Lords' amendment 12, which "watered down" the Bill's legislative powers on shared parenting.<ref>((cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140210/debtext/140210-0002.htm#14021028000001|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 10 Feb 2014 (pt 0002)|work=parliament.uk))</ref> Nevertheless, non-signatories to the EDM, including MPs who were criticised by Fathers4Justice such as [[Caroline Nokes]], did speak in favour of shared parenting, and criticised the amendment, saying, "I was elected on a promise to seek a legal presumption in favour of automatic shared contact, something that the Bill achieved before the amendment was added, but clause 11, as amended, will not deliver what we promised." Nokes also said: "The amendment plays into the hands of obstructive resident parents who wish to prevent a child from having a meaningful, ongoing relationship with an absent parent, and puts us back into a situation of winners and losers".<ref name="carolinenokes.com">((cite web|url=http://www.carolinenokes.com/campaigns/family-law-reform/children-families-bill-debate/ |title=Children & Families Bill Debate &#124; Caroline Nokes MP |access-date=August 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202024221/http://www.carolinenokes.com/campaigns/family-law-reform/children-families-bill-debate/ |archive-date=December 2, 2014 ))</ref><ref>((Cite web |url=https://www.andrewbridgen.com/content/andrew-bridgen-calls-stronger-court-action-parental-alienation |title=Andrew Bridgen calls for stronger court action on parental alienation |website=www.andrewbridgen.com |language=en |access-date=2018-07-15))</ref>

==Criticism==
Members of the group have been accused of conducting intimidating attacks in order to upset court staff, family lawyers and Members of Parliament.<ref name="romseyadvertiser.co.uk">((cite news|url=http://www.romseyadvertiser.co.uk/archive/2013/05/03/10397927.Fathers_for_Justice_face_Twitter_ban_over_campaign/ |title=Fathers for Justice face Twitter ban over campaign |work=[[Romsey Advertiser]] |date=2013-05-03 |access-date=2014-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102123716/http://www.romseyadvertiser.co.uk/archive/2013/05/03/10397927.Fathers_for_Justice_face_Twitter_ban_over_campaign/ |archive-date=2013-11-02 ))</ref> During protests outside the offices of the [[Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service]] (CAFCASS), individual case workers were identified by name. One office of CAFCASS was forcibly entered by F4J members, who detained an unnamed employee. No criminal proceedings are known to have resulted.<ref>((cite news| url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article92735.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110115810/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article92735.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 January 2014 | work=The Sunday Times | location=London | title=Fathers 'terrorise' lawyers | first1=John | last1=Elliott | first2=Abul | last2=Taher | date=21 November 2004 | access-date= 27 November 2012))</ref>

==Impact==
Fathers 4 Justice's main focus remains upon media coverage and legal treatment of fathers' rights issues in the UK. The use of high-profile and disruptive stunts has garnered significant UK media coverage, but the political aims of the group are as yet unachieved. The group has been accused((by whom|date=January 2014)) of missing the opportunity to change legislation when it refused to table amendments to the Children and Families Bill in 2013. One of its central aims, the removal of secrecy surrounding family courts, is the subject of political debate((by whom|date=February 2022))((citation needed|date=February 2022)). In 2006, the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Court of Appeal]] set a precedent allowing adults to discuss secret cases after they had concluded. This resulted in a number of high-profile scandals, chiefly concerning adoption.((citation needed|date=January 2014)) In February 2009, Justice Minister [[Jack Straw]] announced plans to reverse the ruling.<ref>((cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/justice-ministry-to-bar-parents-from-telling-their-own-stories-1622154.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Justice Ministry to bar parents from telling their own stories | date=15 February 2009 | access-date=2 May 2010))</ref>  In a landmark ruling in September 2013, Sir [[James Munby]], [[President of the Family Division]] of the [[High Court of Justice]] in England and Wales, spoke in support of previously 'secret' courts being exposed to public scrutiny, with an order that permitted a family whose children had been removed to speak publicly about their treatment by child safety officials.((citation needed|date=April 2020))

An unintended result of the F4J campaign has been the exposure of flaws in [[security]] at Buckingham Palace, resulting in security enquiries or reviews there<ref>((cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3653986.stm | work=BBC News | title=Urgent review over Palace protest | date=14 September 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010))</ref> and at the House of Commons.<ref>((cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/fathers-4-justice-militants-vow-to-strike-back-on-d-for-dads-day-564385.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620000003/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/fathers-4-justice-militants-vow-to-strike-back-on-d-for-dads-day-564385.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 June 2010 | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Fathers 4 Justice militants vow to strike back on D (for Dads') Day | first1=Jonathan | last1=Thompson | first2=Sophie | last2=Goodchild | date=23 May 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010))</ref>

==See also==
* [[Child custody]]
* [[Fathers' rights movement in the UK]]
* [[Parental alienation]]
* [[Parental alienation syndrome]]
* [[Pressure groups in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Shared parenting]]

==References==
((Reflist|30em))

==External links==
* [http://www.fathers4justice.org/ Fathers 4 Justice – official website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5001386.stm Lottery show delayed by protest]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4905836.stm Fathers' rights group scale abbey] 13 April 2006
* [http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/geldof%20blasts%20critics%20of%20fathers%20for%20justice Bob Geldof supports Fathers for Justice calling them heroic after critics attack their leadership]. 27 May 2005
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ican/A2830637 BBC iCan: Fathers' rights] 12 July 2004

[[Category:2002 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Family and parenting issues groups in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Fathers' rights]]
[[Category:Fathers' rights organizations]]
[[Category:Gender equality]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2002]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United Kingdom]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Fathers 4 Justice (edit)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:By whom (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Template:Citation needed (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite news (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Comma separated entries (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:DMCA (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Delink (view source) (protected)
Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Fix (view source) (protected)
Template:Fix/category (view source) (protected)
Template:If empty (view source) (protected)
Template:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox organization (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Plainlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Template other (view source) (protected)
Template:Unbulleted list (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Use British English (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Use dmy dates (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/text (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:If empty (view source) (protected)
Module:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:List (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:Separated entries (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Fathers 4 Justice.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathers_4_Justice"