Watchdog criticises family courts’ handling of domestic abuse

Nicole Jacobs wants the government to abolish means testing for legal aid for victims of domestic abuse. Photograph: Home Office/PA

The family courts are putting the safety of children at risk by failing to deal effectively with domestic abuse, a report says.

The domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs, calls in the report for urgent reforms to a family justice system that she says retraumatises victims, minimises abuse and fails to hear the voice of the child.