Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases

 

This is the final report of the expert panel, which reflects the findings from the call for 

evidence, following over 1,200 responses from individuals and organisations across 

England and Wales, together with roundtables and focus groups held with 

professionals, parents and children with experience of the 

family courts. Most of the 

evidence received focused on domestic abuse. 

2.  This final report provides an understanding of how effectively the family courts identify 

and respond to allegations of domestic abuse and other serious offences, in cases 

involving 

disputes between parents about the arrangements for their children, known 

as ‘

private law children proceedings

’. 

3.  It makes findings in relation to both the processes and the outcomes for parties and 

children involved in such proceedings, drawing conclusions

from individual 

submissions from those with personal experience in private law children proceedings, 

including victims of domestic abuse. While the panel was unable to review individual 

case files, evidence from the call for evidence, roundtables and focus groups has been 

supplemented with a literature review and a review of relevant case law. 

4.  The panel makes several recommendations for next steps to be taken forward by the 

family justice system (

chapter 11) and summarised below.