The special courts take an investigative rather than adversarial approach to private law family proceedings, adopting a more holistic attitude by engaging with domestic abuse agencies, independent domestic violence advisers and other local partners. One key feature of the model is the emphasis on getting information as early as possible in order to make informed decisions and minimise the need for family members to attend court.
The courts have been piloted successfully in North Wales and Dorset, and the programme was recently expanded to South-East Wales and Birmingham.
At least 40% of private children cases in the family courts involve allegations of domestic abuse, and more than one million VAWG-related crimes were recorded during 2022/23.
Mills, the first specialist family practitioner in 37 years to chair the Bar, has made helping the government in its mission to tackle VAWG one of her term priorities. She argues that an effective and properly funded family court system should be front and centre in reaching this target.
Pathfinder courts ‘prioritise the safety and wellbeing of families,’ she said.
‘They are an innovative approach that we know works and are a significantly better way for courts to engage with parents and children. It’s time to prioritise funding their expansion.’
Mills has also called for a package of measures including specialised domestic abuse and child abuse support and assessment services. She advocates for trauma-informed measures in court buildings—for example, installing screens and providing trauma-awareness training for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service officers and case progression officers.
Mills said: ‘[VAWG] is preventable through policies which extend beyond reactive measures.’
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