News Essentials: 29th January 2022

A brief summary of the essential family law news and cases from the last week: 

NEWS

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2022
These Regulations are the third commencement regulations made under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (“the Act”). They bring into force section 3 (so far as not already in force) on 31st January 2022. Statutory Instrument.

Domestic abuse rises sharply as cause of homelessness in England
Statistics also show an increase in households with children made homeless since start of pandemic. Full story: The Guardian.

Ofsted report indicates a third of care leavers feel they left care too early
According to a nationwide survey undertaken by Ofsted, more than a third of care leavers felt that they left care too early. Full story: Family Law Week.

Ministry of Justice proposes amendments to Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill with aim of keeping women safer
On 04 January 2022 the Ministry of Justice announced further measures to be added to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill with the specific target of keeping women and girls safer. Full story: Family Law Week.

Judge married to Tory grandee refuses to recuse herself in ex-MP case
A High Court judge married to a senior Conservative politician refused to recuse herself from dealing with a contact dispute that involved a disgraced ex-Tory MP, it has emerged. Full story: Legal Futures.

CASES

R-E (Contact: Support from local authorities in Wales) [2021] EWFC B95 (21 October 2021)
Father's application for contact, child having complex emotional and developmental needs. Local authority indicating that it would not facilitate or observe contact. Full report: Bailii.

G (Finding of Fact Hearing: Resuscitative Shake) [2022] EWFC B6 (21 January 2022)
Care proceedings. Fact-finding hearing to determine cause of intercranial injuries, spinal bleeding and ocular injuries to child. Full report: Bailii.

A Child (Application of PD12J) (No 2 - Findings of Fact) [2022] EWFC B5 (12 January 2022)
Fact-finding concerning mother's allegations of abuse in private law proceedings relating to 3 children. Full report: Bailii.

Loggie v Loggie [2022] EWFC 2 (27 January 2022)
W's application that H indemnify her in respect of £65,603.60 she owed to her former solicitors. Full report: Bailii.

K (Forced Marriage Protection Orders; Abuse of process) 2021] EWFC B94 (15 October 2021)
Application by aunt for forced marriage protection orders. Held that aunt abused court process and used it to coerce and control the mother and her daughters. Full report: Bailii.

K (inability to instruct guardian) [2022] EWFC B4 (25 January 2022)
Judgment relating to difficulty where court joined the children to the proceedings, and it was not possible to secure a report from a guardian. Full report: Bailii.

HKS v HSM [2021] EWHC 3423 (Fam) (17 December 2021)
Appeal by mother from shared care child arrangements order arguing, inter alia, that judge had failed to take into account impact on mother of lengthy covert recordings of mother by father. Full report: Bailii. See also my note, here.

L, Re (Third Party Disclosure Order: Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service) [2022] EWHC 127 (Fam) (24 January 2022)
Care proceedings, in which father was convicted of terrorist offences. Proposals set out for applications for third party disclosure from HMPPS and similar bodies. Full report: Bailii.

E (A Child) Step-parent Adoption) [2022] EWFC B3 (24 January 2022)
Step-parent adoption application in relation to 17 year old child. Full report: Bailii.

Sheffield City Council v M & Ors [2022] EWHC 128 (Fam) (24 January 2022)
Judgment appointing Special Advocate to represent respondent father in forced marriage prevention proceedings. Full report: Bailii.