MP advises parents suspected of child abuse to go abroad

Liberal Democrat MP and chairman of the Justice for Families group,  John Hemming, has told tonight's BBC's Panorama that he has been contacted by hundreds of parents who claim they have been treated unfairly by social services. Mr Hemming has commented that the legal system is heavily biased against the parent and in favour of local authorities and thereby advises parents who are suspected of child abuse to go abroad if they can afford it.

'All the cards are held by the local authority. It has large resources to fight the cases, it does all the assessments,' he told BBC Panorama.

'My advice to people, if they can afford it, is just to go abroad. You can't rely on a fair trial here because you can't rely on the evidence being fair. It's best simply to go if you can, at the right time lawfully.'

Local authorities made around 10,000 care applications last year but Cafcass say that these figures merely demonstrate that more children are being protected and that suggesting accused parents flee the country would not improve the family justice system.

Mr Hemming also called for more transparency to report proceedings to journalists from the family courts and Court of Protection.

The programme, BBC Panorama, I want my baby back, will be aired this evening on BBC One at 9pm.