Officers from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) will carry out safeguarding investigations to determine which cases should be fast-tracked and will also identify cases which may be better suited to mediation than the court process.
The move comes as a result of unacceptably long delays in listing hearings in London on private law children matters. The new programme aims to divert cases which are deemed suitable for mediation away from the courts, freeing up court time to deal with other cases.
Resolution, an organisation of family lawyers, has welcomed the move in terms of supporting mediation as an alternative to court but expressed reservations as to whether court was the most appropriate venue for mediation.
Stephanie Parish