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Looking outside the family

29 April 2010
Issue: 7415 / Categories: Opinion
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There is no shortage of critics of the family justice system. Family charities allege bias in the law so far as it relates to their members, senior judges complain that there is insufficient funding to properly protect children, Ofsted continues to criticise Cafcass, and politicians have finally woken up to the fact that the system should be viewed in its socio-economic and public health context.

There is no shortage of critics of the family justice system. Family charities allege bias in the law so far as it relates to their members, senior judges complain that there is insufficient funding to properly protect children, Ofsted continues to criticise Cafcass, and politicians have finally woken up to the fact that the system should be viewed in its socio-economic and public health context.

Suggestions for improvements range from changes in law, such as in international relocation (or “leave to remove”) cases, to greater transparency in, and the use of mediation and collaboration as an alternative to, family courts, and even to the suggestion that poor parental conduct should be “irrelevant” to the question of residence and contact (which typically would

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