MoJ aim to ensure quality of expert evidence in family cases
Child care experts giving evidence in family courts will have to comply with new national standards, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced.
The MoJ said the move would reverse the “increasing trend” for experts to provide “unnecessary and costly evidence” in the form of further written statements, clarifications and additional court appearances, which can delay child care cases.
Under the standards, only “qualified, experienced and recognised professionals” will be allowed to give evidence.
Family justice minister, Lord McNally says: “Poor quality expert evidence can lead to unacceptable delays for children and their families. By putting standards in place we will ensure only the highest calibre of evidence is permitted in family proceedings.”
A nine-week consultation, due to close on 18 July, has been jointly launched by the Family Justice Council and the MoJ. It follows Sir David Norgrove’s review of family justice, which found some poor quality expert evidence being put forward.
Dr Heather Payne, chair of the Family Justice Council’s Experts Working Group, which drafted the standards says: “The standards are designed to improve the quality, supply and use of expertise to improve outcomes for children in the family courts.”
According to the MoJ, the average time for care cases to be concluded has already been reduced from 56 weeks to 45 weeks. It aims to bring the tie down to 26 weeks. £52m in legal aid was spent on expert reports in child care cases in the 12 months up to October 2011.
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