Confidence and confidentiality: improving transparency and privacy in family courts, [response to consultation]This publication sets out a detailed analysis of the responses to the Government's consultation paper (Cm. 6886, ISBN 9780101674423), issued in July 2006, as well as responses made at stakeholder events and discussion forums held in relation to it. The consultation paper contained proposals to increase the openness and transparency of proceedings in the family courts system, whilst seeking to protect the anonymity of individuals involved, and these included: allowing the media, on behalf of and for the benefit of the public, to attend proceedings as of right, though allowing the court to exclude them where appropriate to do so and, where appropriate, to place restrictions on reporting of evidence; to allow attendance of others on application to the court, or on the courts own motion; to introduce a new criminal offence for breaches of reporting restrictions; and to make adoption proceedings a special case, so that there is transparency in the process up until the placement order is made, but beyond that proceedings to remain private. The Government intends to bring forward policy proposals, in light of these responses, in due course. |
Contents
Contents | |
Discussion forum for children and young people 74 | |
The Consultation Criteria 80 | |
Annex B Charts 89 | |
Common terms and phrases
able to attend access to family adoption proceedings allow the media allowed into family allowed to attend anonymity apply to attend asked attend family courts attendance and reporting breakdown of responses CAFCASS Calderdale Chatham House Rules children and young comments were posted Confidence and confidentiality consider Constitutional Affairs consultation paper Crown Prosecution Service discussion forum domestic violence expressed an opinion Families Need Fathers family court proceedings Family Justice Council family justice system Family Panel Hansard Society hearing Inspectors and Lead involved in family involved in proceedings Jake judiciary Katrina LDG & NDPB Lead Members Margaret Booth media are allowed media attendance National Children's Bureau Need to Apply Non-Legal Professionals openness of family parents parties placement order Points raised privacy in family reporting restrictions Respondents Voluntary Sector total 245 respondents Total Respondents Voluntary views Voluntary Sector Organisations Welsh Assembly Government Women's Aid young person