News & Events
Review by the President of the Family Division of media access to courts and the Court of Protection
Monday, 26 October 2009
On the 15th October 2009, Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division, was asked to speak on two recent developments in family law.Family and Criminal process and remedies:collision course or sensible overlap? - Summary and Observations by Mr Justice Hedley
Thursday, 08 October 2009
At the Western Circuit Conference of HMCS - co-hosted by the Peninsula Family Justice Council, delgates attended breakout groups, and provided feedback to Mr Justice Hedley.Independent Reviewing Officers - A note for Local Family Justice Councils
Wednesday, 07 October 2009
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.Read more: Independent Reviewing Officers - A note for Local Family Justice Councils
CAFCASS publishes operating priorities until March 2010
Monday, 05 October 2009
Measures designed to reduce backlog and balance the budget.Read more: CAFCASS publishes operating priorities until March 2010
Western Circuit Conference of HMCS - 22nd Sept 09
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
For the first time in September 2009 the Western Circuit conference of HMCS at Dartington was co-hosted by the Peninsula Family Justice Council.Read more: Western Circuit Conference of HMCS - 22nd Sept 09
MoJ best practice guide for use by all professionals involved with children and families
Tuesday, 01 September 2009
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published a best practice guide for use by all professionals involved with children and families pre-proceedings and in preparation for applications made under section 31 of the Children Act 1989.Read more: MoJ best practice guide for use by all professionals involved with children and families
The Law Society - Acting in the absence of a children's guardian
Tuesday, 01 September 2009
In light of the current Cafcass crisis the Law Society have published a practice note that clarifies what you should do if a court appoints you to represent children in cases where a guardian is not immediately available, or where there are delays between the order appointing a guardian in specified proceedings and the allocation of a guardian.Read more: The Law Society - Acting in the absence of a children's guardian
Official Solicitor - New Practice directions and notes added to the site
Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Important practice directions, notes and information about The Official Solicitor have been added to the publications page of this site.Read more: Official Solicitor - New Practice directions and notes added to the site
Draft paper by the FJC Safeguarding Committee - local response by 10 Sept 09
Friday, 28 August 2009
Please find attached a draft paper by the FJC Safeguarding Committee on Parents Who Lack Capacity to Conduct Public Law Proceedings. The Committee would be grateful if Local FJC members would consider the paper and questions and provide any feedback by Friday 30 October 2009 if possible.Read more: Draft paper by the FJC Safeguarding Committee - local response by 10 Sept 09
Western Circuit Conference
Western Circuit Conference of HMCS - co-hosted by the Peninsula Family Justice Council
Venue: Dartington Hall - 22nd Sept 09
Keynote address given and conference summarised by Mr Justice Hedley, Chair of the MoJ Family / Criminal interface committee, and co-ordinated by Mr Justice Coleridge.
The conference explored the thorny issue of how the overlapping Criminal and family jurisdictions communicate with each other in the fields of children, domestic violence and ancillary relief / proceeds of crime proceedings, and what can be done to effect change for the better.
Documents and talk outlines can be found below:
- Children Giving Evidence - Alex Verdan QC
- Confiscation - His Honour Judge S Wildblood QC
- Domestic Violence - Diana Barran – CEO CAADA
- Disclosure of information - S Cobb QC
- Enforcement of Confiscation orders and Ancillary Relief - Christopher Hames
- Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Related Family and Criminal Proceedings - A Good Practice Guide
Delegates attended breakout groups, and provided feedback, to Mr Justice Hedley, as attached below:
- "Family and Criminal process and remedies: collision course or sensible overlap?” Summary of feedback from syndicate groups.
In his closing address Mr Justice Hedley issued a challenge to all those present to put into practice what he had made clear was already possible without the necessity of any change in the law, namely (1) to bring about joint working of and communication between the Family and Criminal systems on the ground, for the benefit of the families concerned and the efficient running of the two systems. (2) to take the responsibility in every individual case to find out the position where there are multiple proceedings and to ensure that all Courts are aware of the approach and position in the other throughout the case.
