Reading Time: 5 minutes The Scottish Law Commission has been consulting on a range of new proposals to improve civil remedies for domestic abuse, including in cases of child contact and domestic abuse. While the need for enhanced civil justice responses is well-evidenced in their work, our research[1] on child contact and domestic abuse shows that effective change demands much more than new, or minor amendments to, legislation.

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament have just issued their Stage 1 Report on the Children (Scotland) Bill. The Bill will reform family law in Scotland, and particularly promises to improve the participation rights of children within family law proceedings. While the Committee approved of this promise, it felt substantial changes and additions were needed to achieve this. We agree.