Law Society calls for
changes in family courts to be resourced
The Law Society today said that
radical and sustained change to the family justice system would
require a delicate balancing act from the government, which is
expected to announce its response to the Family Justice Review next
week.
Law Society Chief
Executive Desmond Hudson said:
“Children are at the heart
of family justice and their welfare must remain paramount.
“Delays in care cases amount to a national disgrace -
children most in need of society's care are being failed. The
recommendations in the Norgrove Review could contribute
significantly to reducing these delays, if properly funded and
implemented.
“The government's response will be critical in ensuring that
a balance is struck between improving efficiency in the courts,
while ensuring that this is not at the expense of the welfare of
children.
“Change will require
commitment from everyone- judges, lawyers, social workers and the
court service - and particularly from the government, because
change must be resourced.
“The government response
will come at a difficult time for the family justice system. Cuts
in legal aid fees will mean fewer family lawyers available to help
people; cuts in legal aid eligibility will mean more people going
to court unrepresented, taking up huge amounts of court time, just
when court staff and facilities are being cut dramatically -
all leading towards more, not less, delay. This has the makings of
a perfect storm.
“The government needs to
ensure that ambitious and necessary reforms are given the time and
resources that they deserve.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The Family Justice Review
addressed three main areas - public law (taking children into
care), private law (separation, divorce, contact and residence) and
the creation of a Family Justice Service.
In 1991, when the Children Act
1989 came into force, it was expected that care proceedings would
take on average 12 weeks for the courts to deal with. This
has risen to 56 weeks. These delays are affecting 20,000
children. The Government response is expected to introduce a
statutory six month limit on care and supervision proceedings, to
be extended by the judge in exceptional circumstances
only.
The Law Society is the
independent professional body, established for solicitors in 1825,
that works globally to support and represent its members, promoting
the highest professional standards and the rule of law.
Contact: Catherine Reed, The Law
Society
+44 (0)20 7320 5902