Putting children’s safety first will protect them from abusive parents | Letters

Readers respond to a change in the law that repeals the presumption of parental involvement in England and Wales, and places child safety above all elseI felt a mixture of emotions reading your news report (Family law shift hailed as victory for children facing domestic abuse, 21 October) and the opinion piece by Charlotte Proudman (I’ve seen courts hand children back to their abusers. Today that horror finally ends, 22 October) on the extent of the crisis in the family courts, but no surprise. Horror at so many children and mothers traumatised and disbelieved, and, in Claire Throssell’s case, the worst outcome. Relief that change may finally happen and a child’s safety and best interests will override contact at any cost. Though it’s no consolation for those with previous experience of this unjust, chaotic system that rewards abusive fathers.Protective parents, usually mothers, only go to court when there is no choice. When a child is repeatedly refusing to have contact with a parent, hiding, crying, it is clear that something is very wrong. They expect their child’s safety and wellbeing is paramount, and presume that the legal process is there to safeguard the victim. Continue reading...

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