Domestic violence move and faster care protocol welcomed

Family lawyers have welcomed separate moves announced last week to crack down on domestic violence and speed up applications to put children into care.

A Home Office consultation paper proposed making common assault an arrestable offence, extending the use of restraining orders, making it a criminal offence to breach a civil order such as a non-molestation order, and introducing a new register of civil orders to allow the police to check for outstanding orders against an alleged offender.

Law Society President Carolyn Kirby supported the plans, emphasising the key role for solicitors in helping victims of domestic violence.

She added: 'We particularly welcome the plans to prevent domestic violence through education and awareness training, which would encourage more victims to come forward.'

The new protocol for judicial case management in public law cases - aiming to cut out delay and inefficiency in cases where applications are made to take children into care - was launched by Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, president of the family division.

It sets a guideline of 40 weeks for their conclusion.

Dame Elizabeth said the introduction would be a testing time, and that training would be required for all - including lawyers.

A Solicitors Family Law Association spokeswoman said: 'A year is a very long time in a young child's life and measures to reduce delay are to be welcomed.'

Elsewhere, research from Norwich Union has suggested that divorcing couples spend more than 270 million on legal fees each year.

The survey of 280 divorced people found that the average couple spends 13,000 when splitting up, with more than 10% - 1,670 - going on legal costs.

Slightly more than half (52%) sought legal advice.

The 270 million was extrapolated on the basis that 157,000 couples split every year.

Some 60% of those surveyed said they reached an amicable split.

The average marriage lasts just nine years.

Victoria MacCallum, Jeremy Fleming and Paula Rohan