Press warned over family courts

Press warned over family courts
(UKPA) – 12 hours ago

Children may be less willing to discuss sensitive issues during family court proceedings if journalists are given greater access to hearings, research has claimed.

Legislative proposals included in the Children, Schools and Families Bill would allow the press greater access to family court cases.

But according to the report published by the Children's Commissioner for England, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, most children involved in family court cases would be unwilling to disclose maltreatment by a parent or other problems if a journalist was present.

This could affect a judge's ability to make difficult decisions in the youngsters' best interests, the investigation warned.

Youngsters involved in the University of Oxford research said they were worried that media reports about their families could lead to embarrassment and bullying.

Sue Berelowitz, deputy Children's Commissioner for England said: "We support the principle of openness but our overriding consideration is to protect the welfare of children.

"If these children and young people's concerns fail to be addressed in the Bill, we could be faced with a situation where they are unwilling to speak out during family court proceedings and this could result in their best interests not being met."

The evidence gained so far by the Children's Commissioner also says children were sceptical at the power of the law to protect their privacy.

The report also urges judges and magistrates to seek children's views before deciding whether to admit the media to a hearing.

The Children's Commissioner's final report will be published in the spring

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