Specialist courts dealing with domestic violence cases should be rolled out for the benefit of both victims and the public purse - but only with greater involvement from defence solicitors, research has suggested.

The report, commissioned by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Crown Prosecution Service, showed that the five existing courts operating in Cardiff, Derby, Leeds, Wolverhampton and west London have high levels of user satisfaction and support for victims.

The cornerstones are access to lay advocates, child-friendly procedures and personnel specialising in domestic violence cases.

The report recommended developing more specialist courts, which should also have greater links to criminal and civil courts.

However, it added that the pilots had highlighted a lack of consistency in the approach of parties that deal with domestic violence situations.

'Some way should be found to involve defence solicitors in the setting up and running of these courts,' it suggested.

See [2004] Gazette, 25 March, page 20

Paula Rohan