Thread by @CCChatMagazine

Survivors of domestic abuse and their children will receive greater protections after the government today (25 June 2020) announced an overhaul of how the family courts deal with the horrific crime.

THREAD

#familycourt gov.uk/government/new…

- More victims of domestic abuse given access to separate building entrances and waiting rooms as well as protective screens to shield them from their alleged abuser in court.

#familycourt
#domesticabuse

- Easier for judges to issue barring orders which prevent abusive ex-partners from repeatedly dragging their victims back to court – which can be used as a form of continuing domestic abuse.

- Justice Minister @AlexChalkChelt : “ This report lays bare many hard truths about long-standing failings, but we are determined to drive the fundamental change necessary to keep victims and their children safe.”

#familycourt
#domesticabuse

- The expert panel was made up of representatives from charities, the judiciary, family law practitioners and academia, and took the views of more than 1,200 individuals and organisations.

#familycourt
#domesticabuse

- It found that an adversarial process in the family courts often worsened conflict between parents, which could retraumatise victims and their children.

#familycourt
#domesticabuse

- Fundamental reform of how courts hear cases, through a new investigative approach, will be trialled (part of Integrated Domestic Abuse Courts pilot) – these consider family and criminal matters in parallel in order to provide more consistent support for victims.

#familycourt

- Emphasis will be placed on getting to the root of an issue and ensuring all parties are safe and able to provide evidence on an equal footing – without the retraumatising effects of being in court with an abusive ex-partner.

#familycourt
#domesticabuse

ALSO:

- Ministers to launch a review into presumption of ‘parental involvement’ that often encourages a child’s relationship with both parents, unless the involvement of that parent would put the child at risk. 1/2

It will examine whether the right balance is being struck between the risk of harm to children and victims, and the right of the child to have a relationship with both parents. 2/2

#familycourt
#domesticabuse
#childcontact

- A KEY RECOMMENDATION which requires careful consideration to implement correctly – further details about the review will be announced in due course.

#familycourt
#domesticabuse

“Problems in the family court are the single most common concern raised with me as the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, and I am glad to see this report published in time to implement its recommendations through the Domestic Abuse Bill.”
by @nicolejacobsST

“ The culture of disbelief identified by the panel is a barrier to courts making safe child contact arrangements in cases of domestic abuse. The result is that, all too often, survivors and their children experience the family courts as failing to effectively protect them. “

☝️ Above quote by Nicki Norman, Acting CEO at @womensaid.

“ With children’s voices rarely heard in these proceeding and even more rarely heeded, victims and children are in need of better protections from abusive perpetrators.” by @VictimsComm