Father ends crane protest

The protest halted work on the building site

A man demonstrating for father's rights has ended a 16-hour protest on the top of a 64-metre crane in London.

He scaled the machine on a building site close to the Tower of London at about 0730 BST on Monday.

The protester unfurled a series of banners suggesting that UK courts discriminate against fathers.

Scotland Yard said the man, who is in his 40s, had refused medical attention and had come down voluntarily after speaking to police negotiators.

On Friday campaigners from Fathers 4 Justice stormed Court One of the Family Division of the High Court in the Strand, calling for fathers to be given better contact rights with their children.

Glen Poole, from the group, said the protester had left a phone message before going up the crane, saying he was upset because he was unable to get access to his children.

'Safe end'

"It would appear he was granted a contact order last January to see his children but still hasn't been able to," said Mr Poole.

"He left a message with us and it seems he is a father who wants justice for himself and justice for all fathers.

"He supports what we are doing and is doing this in sympathy."

Friday's protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations by the group, which claims fathers have been unable to publicise alleged miscarriages of justice because of a "conspiracy of silence in the Family Court".

The group claims fathers going through divorce or separation proceedings are not treated equally in court and that as many as 40% lose contact with their children.

They also claim court orders granting fathers access to children are not always enforced.

Fathers 4 Justice has called for acts of civil disobedience by its members to further its cause.