Nicole Jacobs - DA Commissioner for England & Wales - Every day #domesticabuse victims tell me that children’s safety is being put at risk in the #FamilyCourt + that they are retraumatised through the process.
Three years after the Harm Panel report by the Ministry of Justice
found that root and branch reform was needed, we have seen progress but this needs to go further, faster.
We must see immediate accelerated change to protect both children and adult survivors going through #FamilyCourt.
As I launch my report in Parliament today, I outline 10 recommendations but here are three key issues:
1. The voice and experience of children must be central to proceedings
2. Resources must be in place to ensure there's adequate support for children and adult survivors going through the #FamilyCourt process.
3. There must be proper resourcing for the oversight mechanism which will be piloted in 3 areas this autumn. This will help us find out what is really going on behind closed doors.
I want to thank Kate Kniveton MP for hosting today's event and for her kind words that my report has her full support.
We heard from two survivors today who really brought the message home:
The first whose daughter was removed said: "When I left my daughter's father I thought I would be able to provide a better life for her. As a solicitor I thought the law would protect me.
"She was never asked if she wanted this brutal life change. She was never asked who she wanted to be her primary carer."
And the second, whose daughter was also removed but eventually returned said: "This has created lifelong trauma which ebbs and flows on a daily basis.
"We still don't understand the impact of child removal. Those lost years can never be restored or returned to her."
These concerns were backed up by Anna Edmundson from the NSPCC who talked about their work "The research + evidence tells us how important it is for children to have their voices heard in private law procedures. Our research showed children didn't feel heard + this was causing real distress to them especially when there was #domesticabuse"
I was very grateful to Lord Bellamy who shared his insights today: "The #FamilyCourt has a uniquely complex role to play + has a profound impact on children, family, society. The voice of the child must be given absolute priority"
He described it as a national problem and said agencies must come together. He supported the need to gather data through the oversight mechanism.
Very many thanks to everyone who spoke today and to all the survivors, young people, mothers/fathers, legal experts, academics, children's and #DomesticAbuse sector, campaigners and judiciary who have worked so tirelessly over the years to improve #FamilyCourt.
I look forward to working closely with you in the future as we continue to try to improve the Family Court for child and adults survivors of #domesticabuse.
You can read my full report here: https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DAC_Family-Court-Report-_2023_Digital.pdf
Nicole Jacobs DA Commissioner for England & Wales - 18th July 2023
