Family solicitors this week broadly welcomed government proposals to improve the justice system for separating parents - but the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA) said the proposed measures should be taken even further.

An SFLA spokeswoman said early mediation between parents should be compulsory rather than voluntary, and that there should be a presumption in favour of contact by both parents.


But she added: 'The government's approach, which is geared towards finding a solution, is at the heart of SFLA practice.'


Government proposals include in-court conciliation and mediation offered to parents at an early stage, better information and advice for parents, and a greater range of powers for judges to enforce court orders.


But the proposals stopped short of the presumption of equal contact rights for both parents that had been sought by fathers' groups.


Christina Blacklaws, chairwoman of the Law Society's Family Law Committee, said: 'Fathers' groups have been disappointed with the proposals [in relation to contact rights], but I am very clear that the Children Act is correct as it stands. What needs to change, as the government has recognised, is the implementation of the court process.


'Giving parties a whole, broad range of options and allowing them to access mediation or other forms of dispute resolution at an early stage must be a good thing. But this is what solicitors are doing anyway - no family solicitor worth their salt has been trying to force parents into contentious court proceedings.'


Ms Blacklaws added: 'Speaking to judges in the higher echelons of the judiciary, they are extremely frustrated by the blunt instruments - fines or imprisonment - which are available to them for enforcement of contact orders. Giving them a greater range of powers is the right way to proceed.'


The Family Law Bar Association said that while it broadly welcomed the proposals, it was disappointed that they did not include a target date for the introduction of legislation.