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This week, our @VictoriaLIVE investigation shone a light on the family courts, a place so often shrouded in secrecy.
We found that 4 children have been killed by an abusive parent in the last 5 years after a court allowed access.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-482306…
This week, our @VictoriaLIVE investigation shone a light on the family courts, a place so often shrouded in secrecy.
We found that 4 children have been killed by an abusive parent in the last 5 years after a court allowed access.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-482306…
We heard anecdotal evidence from dozens of families, lawyers, MPs and charities.
They say courts are routinely granting unsupervised contact to a parent with a proven history of domestic abuse - and convictions.
They say it’s putting children at risk.
They say courts are routinely granting unsupervised contact to a parent with a proven history of domestic abuse - and convictions.
They say it’s putting children at risk.
@clairethrossell’s two boys, Jack and Paul, were killed by their father. He’d been allowed unsupervised contact in an interim court order.
She says she’d warned officials he was dangerous, and had said "I understand why fathers kill their children".
bbc.in/2Yv0YXz
She says she’d warned officials he was dangerous, and had said "I understand why fathers kill their children".
bbc.in/2Yv0YXz
123 MPs from seven political parties have signed a letter calling for an independent inquiry, led by @LouHaigh.
They say the current lack of transparency “does not allow scrutiny and masks decisions” that may harm victims of abuse and their children.
They say the current lack of transparency “does not allow scrutiny and masks decisions” that may harm victims of abuse and their children.
Our investigation was cited in parliament. @LouHaigh urged @10DowningStreet to commission the independent inquiry.
@Theresa_May said a child’s welfare is always paramount, but @MoJGovUK has "not yet seen evidence to suggest an inquiry is necessary”.
@Theresa_May said a child’s welfare is always paramount, but @MoJGovUK has "not yet seen evidence to suggest an inquiry is necessary”.
Former head of the family courts, Sir James Munby, told us questions we’ve raised suggest things are “far from as they should be”.
He said proper research by reputable academics was desperately needed “to get to the bottom of this once and for all”.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-482802…
He said proper research by reputable academics was desperately needed “to get to the bottom of this once and for all”.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-482802…
Our investigation has been widely covered in the national press, including by @thetimes, @Independent, @guardian and @MailOnline 
In what must be a first for a national news programme, we dedicated our whole show on @BBCTwo and @BBCNews to this important story.
We heard from a range of people. Labour MP @jessphillips said this issue should be the Justice Secretary’s top priority.
We heard from a range of people. Labour MP @jessphillips said this issue should be the Justice Secretary’s top priority.
Former Children’s Minister and Conservative MP @timloughton admitted that in some cases the law is not working, and it is “absolutely cause for alarm”.
“We’ve still not got it right”, he told us.
“We’ve still not got it right”, he told us.
‘No contact’ is only ordered in a handful of cases, family barrister @DrProudman said of her experience.
She described representing victims of abuse - but also perpetrators, and how she's able to persuade the court that they're not a risk.
She described representing victims of abuse - but also perpetrators, and how she's able to persuade the court that they're not a risk.
Principal social worker Sarah Parsons told us @MyCafcass is listening - and needs to continually improve.
“I’m not wishing at all to say that everything is perfect”, she said, but “decisions aren’t taken lightly and children are listened too”.
“I’m not wishing at all to say that everything is perfect”, she said, but “decisions aren’t taken lightly and children are listened too”.
‘Katie’ told us she was repeatedly raped and then stalked by her partner.
Police and professionals assessed her as being at ‘high risk of homicide’ - of being murdered by her ex.
He was granted fortnightly unsupervised contact with their daughter.
Police and professionals assessed her as being at ‘high risk of homicide’ - of being murdered by her ex.
He was granted fortnightly unsupervised contact with their daughter.
We’ve heard many stories like Katie’s. We’ve corroborated them as far as we can.
But strict reporting restrictions mean we can't view court documents.
And parents can't tell us what happened in court - they’d be breaking the law and could be prosecuted.
But strict reporting restrictions mean we can't view court documents.
And parents can't tell us what happened in court - they’d be breaking the law and could be prosecuted.
Those restrictions make it very difficult to report on individual cases.
But, crucially, it also means it’s impossible for anyone to say with certainty the true nature and scale of any problems.
An independent inquiry and real academic research may be the only way to find out.
But, crucially, it also means it’s impossible for anyone to say with certainty the true nature and scale of any problems.
An independent inquiry and real academic research may be the only way to find out.
The Ministry of Justice says a child's welfare is always priority.
In cases where there's domestic abuse, potential harm to a child "overrides any presumption of parental involvement," @MoJGovUK said.
@VictoriaLIVE will keep pushing for an interview with Justice Sec @DavidGauke
In cases where there's domestic abuse, potential harm to a child "overrides any presumption of parental involvement," @MoJGovUK said.
@VictoriaLIVE will keep pushing for an interview with Justice Sec @DavidGauke
Family courts are amongst the most difficult things for journalists to report on.
This story's taken months of work, a @VictoriaLIVE team effort, with @Jfurst12, @petejohn_walker, @EsmeAsh, @LizJGibB, @vicderbyshire and others.
More next week, watch this space! @BBCNews @BBCTwo
This story's taken months of work, a @VictoriaLIVE team effort, with @Jfurst12, @petejohn_walker, @EsmeAsh, @LizJGibB, @vicderbyshire and others.
More next week, watch this space! @BBCNews @BBCTwo
Finally, because it's missing on the previous tweet, here's @clairethrossell telling us the heartbreaking story of what happened to her sons.
Hard to watch, but important to hear.
Hard to watch, but important to hear.
