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| Family court delay risking lives, says charity | Family court delay risking lives, says charity |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Domestic violence campaigners say they are very concerned plans to protect children from violent parents during custody battles have been delayed. | Domestic violence campaigners say they are very concerned plans to protect children from violent parents during custody battles have been delayed. |
| Changes to family court guidelines were announced in January, but still have not been signed off by the government. | Changes to family court guidelines were announced in January, but still have not been signed off by the government. |
| The Women's Aid charity said that 20 children had been murdered during contact visits in 11 years and every day's delay risked lives. | The Women's Aid charity said that 20 children had been murdered during contact visits in 11 years and every day's delay risked lives. |
| The Ministry of Justice said the necessary changes were being finalised. | The Ministry of Justice said the necessary changes were being finalised. |
| In family courts, judges are supposed to follow guidance, known as Practice Direction 12J, when handling cases in which domestic violence is cited as an issue. | In family courts, judges are supposed to follow guidance, known as Practice Direction 12J, when handling cases in which domestic violence is cited as an issue. |
| Following a campaign by Women's Aid launched in January 2016, Lord Justice Cobb carried out a review of the guidance, which resulted in some amendments. | Following a campaign by Women's Aid launched in January 2016, Lord Justice Cobb carried out a review of the guidance, which resulted in some amendments. |
| Unsafe arrangements | Unsafe arrangements |
| A key change was to scrap the presumption in the family court that there should be "contact at all costs" with both parents. He said it should be excluded in domestic violence cases where involvement of a parent in a child's life would place the child or other parent at risk of harm. | A key change was to scrap the presumption in the family court that there should be "contact at all costs" with both parents. He said it should be excluded in domestic violence cases where involvement of a parent in a child's life would place the child or other parent at risk of harm. |
| He called for an end to the cross-examination of domestic violence victims by alleged perpetrators in court hearings, a practice banned in the criminal court. | He called for an end to the cross-examination of domestic violence victims by alleged perpetrators in court hearings, a practice banned in the criminal court. |
| Lord Justice Cobb also included a demand for all the judiciary to have further training on domestic violence and to act to ensure women and children are protected. | Lord Justice Cobb also included a demand for all the judiciary to have further training on domestic violence and to act to ensure women and children are protected. |
| Women's Aid found 19 children had been intentionally killed by a parent who was also a known perpetrator of domestic abuse, and since then a further child has also been killed. | Women's Aid found 19 children had been intentionally killed by a parent who was also a known perpetrator of domestic abuse, and since then a further child has also been killed. |
| The majority of these cases followed a court order forcing the children to have contact visits or even live with an abusive parent. | The majority of these cases followed a court order forcing the children to have contact visits or even live with an abusive parent. |
| Women's Aid chief executive Katie Ghose told the Victoria Derbyshire programme: "Every single day of the week there are women and children in vulnerable situations going through the family courts who are being affected and put at risk by this delay. | Women's Aid chief executive Katie Ghose told the Victoria Derbyshire programme: "Every single day of the week there are women and children in vulnerable situations going through the family courts who are being affected and put at risk by this delay. |
| "All that good work has been done to give the toolkits to judges in the family courts, but it just needs to be signed off by the government." | "All that good work has been done to give the toolkits to judges in the family courts, but it just needs to be signed off by the government." |
| 'Welfare utmost priority' | |
| Meanwhile, research released by Women's Aid and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has found that 62% of applications to the family court about where a child should live or spend time feature allegations of domestic abuse. | Meanwhile, research released by Women's Aid and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has found that 62% of applications to the family court about where a child should live or spend time feature allegations of domestic abuse. |
| The study examined 216 child contact cases, drawn from a sample of more than 15,000. | The study examined 216 child contact cases, drawn from a sample of more than 15,000. |
| The research also showed 89% of cases with domestic abuse allegations also involved other safeguarding concerns such as substance abuse or mental health problems. | The research also showed 89% of cases with domestic abuse allegations also involved other safeguarding concerns such as substance abuse or mental health problems. |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The welfare of children is the utmost priority of family courts. | A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The welfare of children is the utmost priority of family courts. |
| "Officials are finalising the necessary changes with the judiciary. These are very sensitive cases and it is only right that the rules are very carefully considered." | "Officials are finalising the necessary changes with the judiciary. These are very sensitive cases and it is only right that the rules are very carefully considered." |
| Watch the Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel. | Watch the Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel. |