Family law practitioners have welcomed the launch of an inquiry by the influential parliamentary constitutional affairs select committee into overhauling the family courts system - but have expressed concern that militant parents’ groups might hijack the proceedings.

The committee will focus particularly on child custody and access cases, but will also investigate more generally whether the family court system is being run effectively and has sufficient powers to provide an adequate service.


Family: overhaul of courts

The committee wants written submissions by Monday 1 November, prior to oral evidence sessions.

Kim Beatson, chairwoman of the Solicitors Family Law Association, said it would be calling for a range of new flexible powers for courts. ‘We agree with the government that the major focus for reform should be the aim of keeping families away from the courts as much as possible and to ensure that parents comply when a court order is made,’ she added. ‘For parents to have confidence in the system for resolving disputes, it is vital that orders are enforceable for the benefit of the child concerned.’


But one leading solicitor, who refused to be named amid fears about reprisals, raised concerns about the safety of those lawyers who are called to give oral evidence, as well as the MPs who will run the show. He warned that certain groups might be out to cause trouble if they are not called themselves, while the possibility that they would be represented might still produce problems if sufficient security measures were not in place. A committee spokeswoman declined to speculate at this time on security or who might be called to give evidence.