FPR Committee publishes consultation paper on children and vulnerable witnesses

The Family Procedure Rule Committee has published a consultation paper on children and vulnerable witnesses. The consultation runs from 3 August 2015 to 25 September 2015.

In June 2014 the President of the Family Division established the Vulnerable Witnesses and Children Working Group to look at how a child can participate in family proceedings and the provision for the identification of vulnerable witnesses. The Working Group published its report in March 2015 after extensive consultation.

The report included a set of draft model Rules and asked the Family Procedure Rule Committee to consider urgently whether, and if so how, the recommendation and draft Rules could be implemented. The Family Procedure Rule Committee has considered the draft Rules and made some amendments. The Family Procedure Rule Committee now seek comments on the revised set of draft Rules which are contained in this consultation.

The consultation can be found here.

The Draft Amendments to Family Procedure Rules: consultation paper is available to download here.  

Annex A: Draft Family Procedure Rule amendment can be viewed here.