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Commissioner backs calls to restrict family court reporting

Calls for a government U-turn on plans to give the media wider reporting rights on family court cases have been backed by the children's commissioner for England.

A report by the justice select committee this week called on the government to scrap the provisions in the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010 allowing media access to family courts.

The group of MPs said research showed that children involved in family court cases fear identification by their community to such an extent that knowing a case may be reported in the media could inhibit them from giving vital information.

"There is a danger that justice in secret could allow injustice to children, or a perception of injustice," the report states.

"[But] we believe the underpinning principle of the family court system, that all decisions must be made in the best interests of the child, must apply equally to formation of government policy on media access to the family courts."

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