8/3/2019 Welcome Letter: Supporting Families after the Riots and the Role of Family Law

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Welcome to the Westminster DebateSupporting families after the riots and the role of familylaw. The family justice system, despite the enormous pressures it faces in the wake of legal

aid cuts and ever increasing court delays is listening, now more than ever, to the voice of the

child. Children as young as three are being given the opportunity to express their views,

whether tohelp make the system betterortake part in it, as the system responds creatively tothe urgent need to support young people.

But more needs to be done. The summer riots which took place from the 6th

9th August this

year, saw a total of 1,984 people attend court for a first hearing, of which 26% were children

aged ten to seventeen.A further 27% were eighteen to twenty year olds. The startling nature

of these figures lies not only in the number of children involved but in their eclectic

backgrounds, too. For the first time,children from prosperous homescame out on to the

streets to riot.

Social exclusion has moved from being an exclusively public family law issue to one that has

seeped into the private family law sector. As parents work longer hours and struggle to meet

the needs of both their employers and their children, the hands-on job of parenting becomes

fraught with anxiety and children become isolated and left to navigate the world on their own.

Lack of support during divorce or separation for a child can be especially traumatic for a

child as the framework of their family unit is challenged from all sides.

Sadly, the family justice system as it stands, cannot always offer these children the varied and

flexible kind of support they need, but the system is slowly changing. As a new family law

landscape emerges with the publication of the Final Report of the Family Justice Review

(November 2011), the potential for our family justice system to offer holistic and diversesupport is closer to becoming a reality.

As the statistics on the riots continue to be collected, no complete picture has been offered yet

as to why the riots took place. This debate will examine the implications of the riots on

children and parents across the country and the ramifications of a system that fails to respond

to these social ruptures. Understanding the family justice system is vital in order to

understand how to implement change and to that end, our panel of parenting, legal and child

welfare experts have been brought together to open a dialogue which we hope will lead to a

better understanding of the issues and possible solutions.

Family Law in Partnerships dedication to child welfare sees this leading family law firm

pilot the discussion with BBC parenting expert Sue Atkins, District Judge Nicholas Crichton

and Elaine Halligan of The Parent Practice joined by David Allison, a partner at Family Law

in Partnership LLP and John Cryer, MP.

As we look back on the riots four months on, now is a fitting time to look at the family justice

system; to take stock of the burgeoning resources being offered in other areas and seek

solutions that will support every child, from all walks of life.

Natasha Phillips

Founder, Researching Reform

http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_514http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_514http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_514http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/threeyearold-becomes-youngest-trial-witness-6261012.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/threeyearold-becomes-youngest-trial-witness-6261012.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/threeyearold-becomes-youngest-trial-witness-6261012.htmlhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/public-disorder-august-11.htmhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/public-disorder-august-11.htmhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/public-disorder-august-11.htmhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/public-disorder-august-11.htmhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025068/UK-riots-Middle-class-rioters-revealed-including-Laura-Johnson-Natasha-Reid-Stefan-Hoyle.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025068/UK-riots-Middle-class-rioters-revealed-including-Laura-Johnson-Natasha-Reid-Stefan-Hoyle.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025068/UK-riots-Middle-class-rioters-revealed-including-Laura-Johnson-Natasha-Reid-Stefan-Hoyle.htmlhttp://researchingreform.wordpress.com/http://researchingreform.wordpress.com/http://researchingreform.wordpress.com/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025068/UK-riots-Middle-class-rioters-revealed-including-Laura-Johnson-Natasha-Reid-Stefan-Hoyle.htmlhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/public-disorder-august-11.htmhttp://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/public-disorder-august-11.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/threeyearold-becomes-youngest-trial-witness-6261012.htmlhttp://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_514

8/3/2019 Welcome Letter: Supporting Families after the Riots and the Role of Family Law

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