Confidence
and confidentiality: Improving transparency and privacy in family courts
[CP 11/06] 11th July 2006 - 30th October 2006
Most of the
proceedings in the family courts are held in private and the decisions
are not generally made public. The way family courts currently operate
attracts criticism to the family justice system and lays it open to
accusations of bias and injustice. The family courts deal with some
very private matters and difficult decisions. We want the courts to
be more open, but also to ensure that those people involved have their
privacy protected.
This consultation
puts forward proposals for improving openness and privacy in family
courts, specifically, to:
-
Make
things simpler and more consistent across all family proceedings;
-
Allow
the media into family proceedings as of right to attend proceedings,
though allowing the court to exclude or restrict them where appropriate;
-
Ensure
reporting restrictions provide anonymity of those involved;
-
Allowing
for restrictions to be increased or relaxed, as the case requires;
-
Introduce
a new criminal offence for breaches of reporting restrictions;
-
Allow
attendance by others on application to the court;
-
Make
adoption proceedings a special case.
These
proposals would mark a major change in the way family courts conduct
their business, and a major step forward towards the dual objective
of confidence and confidentiality.
The consultation
ends on 30th October 2006. To encourage debate about the openness and
privacy in family courts the Government has launched a public online
forum that complements the consultation process. Public dialogue about
this topic will feed into the policy recommendations proposed by the
Government. To have your say, visit their forum http://www.familycourtsforum.net/forum
Download
the consultation paper "Confidence & Confidentiality"
Download
the questionaire to "Confidence & Confidentiality"
Men's
Aid Response to the questionaire "Confidence & Confidentiality"
Marie Del Pino
Transparency and Accountability branch
Family Justice Division
Selborne House, 4th floor, post point 9A
London SW1E 6QW
Tel: 020 7210
8601
Fax: 020 7210 8681
family.consultation@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
