There has been an increase in the number of fathers sent to prison for non payment of Child Support according to The Independent.

The article suggests there is no logic to the system and one father was summoned over a debt of £700.00. This is punishment pure and simple.  The result is less money for the child…

What to do with dad’s who don’t or won’t pay? Answers on a postcard please…

I have a few suggestions of my own.

What about having a joined up approach to family law? Before dads can make an application to Court for contact they have to go through a Mediation Assessment. What about encouraging mediation with the CSA? Have you ever tried to negotiate with the CSA?

I think the CSA which no longer exists (it has been replaced but still functions as the CSA) should be abolished and child maintenance should be handled by the Courts.

I think the CSA assessment should be linked to the amount of money a father pays for his car… lots of self employed dad’s pay £800 per month for their car and diddly squat for their kids.

I have lots of similar ideas…

The unfortunate aspect of the system is that the fathers who are punitively punished seem to be victims and those who should be paying manage to avoid doing so and get away with it.