New timetable for care proceedings a success?

Concerns over restricting the length of child care proceedings to six months have not materialised, says senior family barrister Tim Parker, of 9 Gough Square. Fears of insufficient expert evidence and adherence to procedure trumping justice have not borne out since the new timescale was introduced in July 2013, and the Public Law Outline (PLO) has so far achieved its objective. Parker, who recently published a book on the PLO, said the new regime had introduced a “vigour” that did not exist 18 months ago, although judges and practitioners need to “stay vigilant”.