The days of behind-closed-doors hearings in England and Wales' familycourts could be about to end. Government proposals released last week onopenness in the family courts will, say ministers, revive publicconfidence in the system while protecting the privacy of familiesinvolved in these legal battles. After all, as family law ministerHarriet Harman puts it: "The courts have nothing to hide."
The arguments about balancing family privacy with public scrutiny havedivided people working in family law for months. But despite the fraughtdebate, the Department of Constitutional Affairs' proposals aresurprisingly straightforward.
First, the Government intends to create a single set of rules for publicand media access to family court hearings. Currently, the restrictionsvary depending on the type of court and the type of hearing.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
