'It could have been me': judges apprehensive about security, family division president tells MPs

Judges are worried about security after a family judge was assaulted in court, the president of the Family Division has told MPs.

Giving evidence before the House of Commons justice select committee, Sir Andrew McFarlane said that there was a ‘deal of apprehension’ among judges about security.

A family judge was assaulted at Milton Keynes County Court last November. The president did not wish to comment on the incident but told the committee 'the fact that it happened and security arrangements were breached to a significant degree has had an impact right across the system, civil judges as well. And I think judges think, “Well it could have been me”'.

The committee heard that McFarlane, the lady chief justice and senior president of tribunals are looking at the ramifications and changes that will potentially need to be made.

McFarlane said: ‘It’s quite striking this difference between the security arrangements in a criminal court and those in a family court, where often domestic abuse is an issue. Not frequently, but not out of the ordinary, some people become very excited by what’s going on and some people lose control of their behaviour. And it could happen in any court. So that’s, I think, judges would have high in their view as the current state, is an apprehension about whether we should carry on sitting in the way that we do.’

Asked whether there has been increase in incidents, McFarlane replied: ‘I don’t think any judges were surprised that something had happened in a court because that sadly is something that does happen.’

On the Central Family Court’s robing pilot, which began last week, McFarlane said the degree to which incidents happen at the London court was ‘relatively high’ and that there was a 'high level' of knife confiscations at the door. ‘The judges felt they wanted to do something to see if it would change the perception of those attending court as to the seriousness of the court process and the anonymity of the judge’s role by bringing back robes.’

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