ALT Cream text on a black background. This is a pivotal moment that will improve how DA is responded to within the Family Court and ensure children are properly heard, protected and supported. Every day I hear from survivors who have been failed by the family justice system - where many have been forced to watch as their children are silenced and decisions are taken that directly put them in harm’s way. This announcement - which stems from the tireless campaigning by Claire Throssell and the wider DA sector - will ensure that the courts place the safety and wellbeing of children above all else. I commend the UK Government for listening to victims and acting to address their concerns. For too long, the presumption of parental involvement has distracted from the need to respond to domestic abuse and when vulnerable children are involved, there is no place for blanket approaches. It is now over to ministers, who I look forward to working with, to ensure this critical change is enacted ASAP.

ALT Illustration of three people in a court room with text in a speech bubble which says "I was literally just over the threshold to get legal aid... so through all the five years of it I was just representing myself... It was really hard to know how to word things".

ALT Illustration of a woman in a hijab, with a speech bubble and text saying "I'm doing handover with him twice a week... I don't feel safe. It's so draining."