Justice delayed
COVID 19 saw a backlog of 65,000 cases in the family courts. This was still at over 47,000 in December 2024.
In 2024, the average time for a child case from filing the application to a decision was 41 weeks, but there are regional variations with some in London taking 70 weeks.
This is an agonising wait for a court ruling on matters that effects the lives of children, their parents and others, all their lives.
No more taxpayers money is available and there is an acute shortage of judges. Many cases are adjourned because there is no judge available, which can cause huge upset, stress and downright grief.
Diverting just a fraction of the overseas aids budget to family courts could dramatically improve the lives of British families.
June 2025
Rodney Hylton-Potts