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Domestic violence a factor in majority of child contact applications, research finds

Nearly two-thirds of applications heard in the family courts for contact with a child feature some kind of domestic violence allegation, a study has found.

The research, published jointly by Women's Aid and Cafcass, found that 62 per cent of applications relating to where a child should live or spend time involved domestic abuse as a risk factor. 

The study looked at a total of 216 child contact applications - known as child arrangement orders - which are usually between private individuals.

It was found that, of the cases with domestic abuse allegations, 89 per cent also involved other safeguarding concerns such as substance abuse or mental health problems.

Researchers found that in 23 per cent of cases involving domestic abuse allegations, unsupervised contact was ordered at the first hearing. Some sort of contact, whether supervised or unsupervised, was ordered in 44 per cent of cases at the first hearing.

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