Will the Revised PLP remedy some of the problems of the family law system? Rosie Schumm reports
When Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division, set out his Framework for a Family Court in December 2006, he had the long term aim of poviding a consistent and unified national approach in the family courts. One of the key elements of his framework was the plan for the introduction of a new practice direction with regard to the case management of private law children matters.
He also had to address the immediate problem affecting the family justice system, namely, the effect of the mounting pressures and backlogs faced by Cafcass (specifically, in the appointment of guardians and the production of court reports) set against the backdrop of a shortfall in funding.
On 1 April 2010, the long awaited Revised Private Law Programme Practice Direction (PLP) came into effect (courts will have until 4 October 2010 to effect its full implementation).
The revised PLP builds on the success achieved by the combined roles at the first hearing of the judge and Cafcass (introduced
