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Call for better Protection of Victims of Violence

At 1 o’clock today Women’s Aid England and Wales launch their new campaign and report aimed at putting children first.

The report ‘Nineteen Child Homicides’ revisits their 2004 report about the danger to children of allowing contact with a parent who is a perpetrator of violence with his/her children and the horrific consequences when professionals get it wrong.

The new report focuses on 12 families where 19 children were murdered by the perpetrator of violence against the parent who they live with and who has tried to keep them safe. It is a grim and depressing read. If the recommendations made in the 2004 report had been followed by the professionals (they cite Police, Social Workers, Family Court Advisors and Judges) these 19 children might be alive today.

Clearly the blame for these needless deaths lies squarely with the perpetrator but there are serious concerns about the professional failures which placed children with that perpetrator for contact.

The report notes the pressure placed on victims of violence to allow their ex partner contact during the court process seemingly at all costs. It states professionals starting with Judges need to be trained in the effects and impact of violence including coercive control and there is a need for training in identifying risk for the appointment of an expert to do this where appropriate.

I am a member of the expert advisory board of Women’s Aid for this report and campaign. Myself and colleagues with direct experience of the family court system have warned that the situation has worsened in recent time due to cost pressures on the family court advisory service and legal aid. Also the pressure on Judges to speed cases through the court process combined with lack of legal aid for experts and for parents and the fact that in many cases both parties having to represent themselves are all factors putting children and the victim of the violence at significant risk of harm.

The campaign seeks to address this. The report can be accessed here: Women’s Aid Nineteen Child Homicides Jan 2016

Report’s Key Recommendations:

1. Further avoidable child deaths must be prevented by putting the child first in the family courts as the Legal Framework and Guidance states.

2. There is an urgent need for independent national oversight into the implementation of Practice Direction 12J – Child Arrangements and Contact Orders: Domestic Violence and Harm

Cris McCurley, Partner and Head of the International Family department

Cris McCurley is a Resolution Accredited expert on Domestic Abuse and a member of the Resolution committee.

UPDATE

On Thursday 21st January 2016 the Telegraph printed a letter about the Child First Campaign on which more than 30 noted professionals have signed their names.

 

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