Majority of family court cases in England and Wales feature domestic abuse

[IwantToRetire]

Nearly 90% of cases before the family courts in England and Wales show evidence of domestic abuse, a watchdog has disclosed.
Physical, psychological or sexual abuse of a member of the family or household was uncovered in 87% of cases, according to a review ordered by the domestic abuse commissioner, Nicole Jacobs.

The abuse was frequently not recognised as an “active issue” or taken seriously with regard to the type of contact children would go on to have with the abusive parent, she said. In more than half of the cases reviewed, unsupervised overnight contact was ordered.

“No child should be forced to spend time with an abusive parent or caregiver if the circumstances aren’t safe for them to do so,” Jacobs said. “But time and time again we see how the pro-contact culture and antiquated views on domestic abuse are contributing to decisions that put children in harm’s way.

“It’s clear that domestic abuse can no longer be considered a side issue within the family justice system, but instead its everyday business that demands a rigorous response.”

Article continues at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/oct/10/majority-of-family-court-cases-in-england-and-wales-feature-domestic-abuse-watchdog-says

I knew it was bad but that's a shocking proportion.

The contact is always good mantra has been around for years but is there any good research that looks at the impact on adults of having been forced by the court to spend time with a parent they asked not to see or whom their other parent claimed was a abusive, or who was flakey and frequently let them down?

Is this is yet another area of huge importance where the state constantly puts policies in place based on unevidenced ideas?

My dc were forced to see their abusive dad. Eldest has very little contact with him now she’s an adult. The court system put us all through hell and he sat there and pointed the finger at me and called me an unfit mother. Psycho. Manipulative. Crazy. Unreasonable etc. still does but now he has little hold due to their ages. It’s done them both a lot of damage though.
The court system is a disgrace for families.

Sending hugs @CervixSampler

I had 7.5 years in the Family Courts back in the day. They didn’t take the (extensive) violence seriously, nor his drug and alcohol addictions. They didn’t take the violence against DD seriously. I had many witnesses including school, nursery and after school club (bless the lovely head teacher and all of the nursery staff). They had Police reports. At one stage he actually sexually assaulted her in front of me which I reported to the Police straight away.

They did suggest that the reason she feared contact was not because he was violent and would scream, shout and threaten her, but because I wasn’t enthusiastic enough about it and was alienating her from her father (I never criticised him to her).

The judge also seemed to dislike women as witnesses, rebuking one for being a single parent (she was and still is married to a lovely man).

They gave my ex unsupervised overnight contact when DD was 8. She arrived back from each visit deeply traumatised and would need to be just held for hours whilst she shook with fear.

When she was 11 and he attempted to strangle her (not for the first time and yes I did report this to both the Court and the Police) we were blessed with a new, sensible enhanced practitioner from CAFCASS any DD was allowed to refuse contact (I had been threatened with jail a few times before that and actually had planned what I was going to do in prison).

He stalked her rather half-heartedly a few times after that, now she hasn’t seen him for years, but if the courts seriously think that this is good for children they are insane. No sensible professional would have allowed the violent men going through the courts unfettered access to children, but because they are fathers good sense and safeguarding go out of the window.

Oddly enough, when I told the judge during one session just how badly he was doing his job he commended me for being an excellent mother. You couldn’t make it up 🤦‍♀️

I think there has been reports on this, and I am sure an important court case which could not be written about because family court is behind closed doors. (Sure there is a thread on this.)

But like so many things to do with women and children's rights they get acknowledged but never acted on.

eg this from a few years ago https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66531409

I’m not surprised. My ex actually hurt dd it’s why I left. Yet I’m family court the judge didn’t care and kept talking about what is best for dad. The kids meant nothing.

judges have so much power and you can’t go to the press about what has happened so they get away with it.

and of course now we have a court order SS and services hear you have a court order and don’t do anything when a child is disclosing abuse. If you push and ask why they tell you to take it back to court yourself. But how will that help when I had evidence he hurt dd and I wa labelled difficult for stopping contact on SS advice last time?

New report highlights this.

https://todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/antiquated-approach-to-domestic-abuse-damaging-survivors-and-children-says-domestic-abuse-commissioner/

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025-10-13/domestic-abuse-features-in-nine-out-of-10-family-court-cases

The actual report
https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/majority-of-family-court-cases-involve-domestic-abuse-but-system-still-not-responding-warns-domestic-abuse-commissioner/

All about men’s rights isn’t it. As usual.

If someone claims domestic abuse (and it’s a wide ranging sliding scale-physical, financial, mental) automatically the person can then claim additional benefits, support (physical and financial) and housing. Also makes a case a priority. This goes for male and female.

i think this is only true if you can prove there was abuse. I tried when I was in court and the HV and social worker refused to write me anything to back up my claims. Even then you only get legal aid I think. There is no extra support or financial help. For housing if you fled the home you own then you won’t get housed and to get into refuge if you own a home you have to self fund (£600 a week 10 years ago). For someone being financially abused this is just not possible.

maybe in theory help is available but the reality is there isn’t enough for those who need it so most people don’t get anything.

maybe in theory help is available but the reality is there isn’t enough for those who need it so most people don’t get anything

Especially housing. Even if you have a child or even 2 children the only housing you might get is a single room in some sort of shared housing arrangement.

Or allocated somewhere miles from where you live, your work, your family, your friendship network, and your child/ren having to go to a strange school and lose their friends.

From this Government web page it doesn't look like any extra money, but maybe receiving usual benefits quicker, and not having to prove seeking work.

But to get this money you have to evidence the abuse:

Victims will need to provide evidence of any domestic violence or abuse to receive support from DWP.
You’ll need written evidence from a person acting in an official capacity showing that:

• your circumstances are consistent with those of a person who has had domestic violence or abuse inflicted, or threatened, upon them, during the 6 months before you notified DWP
• you have made contact with the person acting in an official capacity to tell them about any incidents that have occurred in the past 6 months

A person ‘acting in an official capacity’ means:

• a health care professional
• a police officer
• a registered social worker
• your employer or a representative of your trade union
• any public, voluntary or charitable body which has had direct contact with you about the domestic violence or abuse

You must provide your evidence to the jobcentre as soon as possible but no later than one calendar month after you first told us about the domestic violence and abuse.