Responding to the Government’s expansion of Pathfinder to family courts in the Midlands, Ellie Butt, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Refuge, said:
“The family courts have been failing survivors of domestic abuse for far too long. Refuge welcomes the expansion of Pathfinder to the Midlands – an important step towards improved protections and outcomes for survivors and their children.
“Many survivors we work with describe family court proceedings as highly distressing and even traumatic, exacerbating the trauma of experiencing domestic abuse. Survivors’ experiences often go unseen and unacknowledged, which, in turn, leaves their children at risk of further harm from perpetrators.
“Improved efficiency, ensuring the voice of the child is heard, and multi-agency collaboration are essential to ensuring that survivors and their children have a better experience of the family courts. Early results from the Pathfinder rollout have been encouraging, demonstrating real potential to improve outcomes for families.
“However, this represents just one step forward – survivors and their children are continuing face real risks in the family courts, and widespread reform is urgently needed. Long-term systemic change will depend on greater transparency across the system, expanded access to legal aid and robust, consistent training for judges on domestic abuse to ensure that decisions are informed and survivor-centred.”
