FJC News
The following pages contain Newsletters, Events, Reports and News Updates from the FJC for the wide range of bodies who have an interest in the family justice system - more information can be found on the FJC website.
Latest News:
- Parents who Lack Capacity in Public Law Proceedings - The FJC Safeguarding Committee has produced the paper to attempt to summarise current good practice in procedural terms
- Family Justice Council Guidelines on Judges meeting Children - The Guidelines are for judges to take into account in the context of the current Practice Directions governing procedures for Public law and Private law Children Act 1989 cases
- Francis Plowden's report - Court fees in child care cases review
- The Children's Commissioner's report - Children and young people's views regarding media access to family courts.
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Second open meeting of the Family Justice Council. Read the Minutes of the meeting held on the 25th January 2010
- The Court & your Child: When Mum and Dad Split Up and When Social Workers Get Involved
The FJC has recently published translated versions of the booklets 'The Court and your Child: When Mum and Dad Split Up and When Social Workers Get Involved.' These simple guides comprise easy words and pictures to help explain family breakdown and court proceedings. - Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) - New Report
November saw the launch of Safety in Numbers – the first large-scale, multi-site evaluation of severe domestic abuse across England and Wales. It follows the cases of 2,500 high risk women over a two-year period as they received specialist support from teams of IDVAs. The evaluation found significant positive changes in victims’ safety – more than 80% reported cessation of physical and sexual abuse. For a copy of the report, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - UKBA are given new statutory duty to safeguard and promote children's welfare
Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 came into force on 2 November. It places a duty on the Home Secretary to make arrangements for ensuring that immigration, asylum, nationality and customs functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This duty puts the UK Border Agency on the same footing as other bodies that work with children. www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2009/november/01-duty-welfare-children - Openness and accountability in the family courts
Provisions in the Children, Schools and Families Bill have been announced as part of new legislation put before Parliament on 19 November. The first phase will allow reporting of family proceedings with a strict ban on identifying the children and families involved. This follows the changes made in April this year when accredited journalists were permitted to attend some family proceedings. www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease191109a.htm
There is also a 12-month pilot scheme which began on 2 November in Cardiff and Leeds in which some judgments in family cases are published on-line.
www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease021109b.htm - Forced Marriage Protection Act – First Anniversary
The first anniversary of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act was marked on 25 November by a speech by Bridget Prentice and the publication of a policy paper “One Year On”. www.justice.gov.uk/news/speech251109a.htm. In its first year, a total of 86 protection orders were issued, more than was originally expected. www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease251109a.htm. Relevant Third Party legislation came into effect on 2 November, allowing local authorities to apply for a protection order on behalf of the victim without the need for leave of the court.
www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease021109a.htm - Family Legal Aid Funding from 2010
The LSC has recently published its response to the family legal aid funding consultation.
www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/cls_news_10432.asp?page=2
Other news
- New civil legal aid contracts
The LSC response to the consultation on Civil Bids Rounds 2010 has been published. The tender process for the new civil legal aid contracts has been postponed until late 2009 or early 2010. Read More - Legal Aid Reforms.
The House of Commons Justice Committee has published its report on the LSC’s Legal Aid reforms Read More - Minutes of the National FJC meeting held in October.
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9th December 2009 - Debate on openness in the family courts.
A podcast will be available on the FJC website in due course. -
Second Open Meeting of the Family Justice Council - 25 January 2010
The Family Justice Council will hold its second open meeting on the 25th January 2010, from 10.00am until 1.30pm in London. This will offer the opportunity for members of the public to see at first hand the Council at work. Guests will be able to observe the meeting which will conclude with a question-and-answer session when they will be able to put pre-submitted questions to the Council. Please note that the event is now full. -
Independent Reviewing Officers - A note for Local Family Justice Councils.
Read More
The Children in Safeguarding Proceedings Committee has, since its inception, been
concerned as to the effectiveness of the current arrangements for the independent review
of looked after children's cases. As long ago as 2005, in response to the “Care Matters”
consultation they commented upon the obvious failings of the existing system. The Children in Safeguarding Proceedings Committee of the Family Justice Council is keen to contribute to the Department’s work in the coming months and a report is attached for Local Family Justice Councils.
