Thousands more children will receive swifter justice, access better support and be shielded from further trauma as a new family court model is expanded to the Isle of Wight.
Today (Tuesday), Baroness Levitt KC has confirmed that the Pathfinder family court model is expanding to the Isle of Wight. The expansion introduces earlier identification of risk to improve children’s safety and streamlines court processes to increase efficiency and reduce delays.
The model will also bolster coordination between the family court and agencies, such as local authorities and the police, when dealing with allegations of domestic abuse and other harms. This should in turn reduce the number of returning cases, protecting children and families from further trauma.
The move follows the recent expansion of the model to the Black Country, Stoke-on-Trent and Worcester.
It comes as figures from trial areas in South East Wales and Birmingham published in November showed this new, innovative approach is working. Cases are being resolved up to 7-and-a-half months more quickly, with the backlog in family courts reducing by over 50%.
The decision to extend the rollout of Pathfinder courts is a key pillar of the Government’s Plan for Change to protect children, helping deliver the government’s new strategy to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and restore faith in the justice system.
Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, said:
“With domestic abuse cases continuing to rise on the Island, I’m pleased to see the government taking decisive action by introducing this specialist court – a model that has already proven effective elsewhere in the country.
Article continues below this advertisement “This will make a real difference for victims and their children, providing faster, more focused justice. I wholeheartedly welcome this step.”
Why do these things always say “women & girl’s?” Men & boys suffer mental and physical abuse at the hands of women. Just the men don’t feel comfortable talking about it or reporting it. These should be put forward for all not just keep saying women & girls. I totally understand some woman are abused, not denying that, but there are also some very narcissistic woman who know how to play the system & then play at being the victim.
Well said.
Because women and girls are 3 times more likely to be victims than men are, and in this case ^^ as women are usually the primary caregivers of their children, less inclined to simply leave the abusive relationship. When and if they do leave, are often subject to harassment, coercion and emotional blackmail with males using their children as weapons to beat them with via the courts and family services.
And yes, I know men can be victims; my own son was one. But he was able to walk away. Many can’t, and even fewer women.
As for narcissistic women…yes, but they are born. Misogynistic men are schooled and socialised by society. Both will play the system.