Proposed legislation aims to broaden safeguards for minors in instances of abuse.
07 May 2025
Barbara Mills, head of England's barristers, applauds new law limiting abusive parents' rights.
Barbara Mills, Chair of the England and Wales Bar Council, has shown her support for a fresh bill intended to limit the parental rights of "despicable offenders" who have been convicted for sexually abusing their own child. Mills praised the bill's provisions, stating they provide a "strong, protective measure" by automatically stripping parental responsibility in such cases. The bill is set for review in Parliament today.
MORE PROTECTION FOR BELEAGUERED KIDS
The Victims and Courts Bill, a commitment from the newly elected Labour Party in 2024, prioritizes enhancing the confidence of victims in the justice system. The UK government stated that the bill aims to tackle "from-the-shadows parents" by prohibiting offenders from meddling in their child's affairs, such as interfering with their activities or requesting school updates. These steps are designed to enable "the family to move on from the nightmare" and heal.
In addition, the bill plans to grant judges additional power to punish skipping offenders at sentencing, bolster the Victims' Commissioner's authority, and empower the Director of Public Prosecutions to appoint Crown Prosecutors more freely.
Lending her voice to the bill's wider provisions, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Helen Newlove, stated, "This is a move towards an accountable system that prioritizes victims. It introduces essential oversight and accountability to agencies dealing with anti-social behavior, where victims have often felt ignored and unsupported."
THE NEED FOR THE RIGHT TOOLS
Family law expert Barbara Mills lauded the extended safeguards for children provided by the bill, arguing that parental responsibility shouldn't be seen as inviolable, especially when a parent has committed heinous acts against his or her child.
Pointing to the grim reality of child abuse cases, Mills warned, "Findings of abuse are merely the start of a long, difficult journey for the children."
She added that, alongside Jade's Law – a legislation that suspends parental responsibility for a child when a parent murders the other parent – the bill underscores "the critical importance of legislation that empowers family courts and equips them with the resources they need to tackle domestic abuse head-on, focusing on long-term outcomes."
Mills made it clear that progress in eliminating violence against women and girls depends on addressing this issue as a family law concern as much as a criminal one.
ACROSS THE ISLAND
Ireland is also considering family law reforms to bolster victim protections in the criminal justice system. In August 2024, a petition demanding the passage of Valerie's Law was submitted to the Irish justice minister. This proposed law is reminiscent of Jade's Law and is now part of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025. In April 2025, Irish officials approved the general scheme of the bill.
Last month, Ireland's current justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, unveiled plans to revamp the confidentiality rule for family law proceedings to boost openness and public trust, all while maintaining privacy and anonymity.
Valerie's Law
Valerie's Law is a proposed Irish legislation inspired by the case of Valerie French, tragically murdered by her husband in 2019. The law intends to address guardianship rights for parents convicted of killing their partners. The campaign for this law has gathered momentum, with Kathleen Funchion MEP pushing for European support.
In-Camera Rule Reforms
Ireland's Justice Minister, Jim O’Callaghan, has proposed revisions to the confidentiality rule in family law proceedings to increase transparency and public faith while preserving privacy and anonymity. These revisions are part of a broader initiative to fortify protections for victims and children in cases of domestic violence and abuse.
Jade's Law
Though specifics about Jade's Law are scarce in the search results, it is significant because it serves as a foundation for the proposed protections in the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025.
- Barbara Mills, the Chair of the England and Wales Bar Council, has expressed her approval for a proposed law aimed at limiting parental rights of abusers, stating it offers "a strong, protective measure."
- The Victims and Courts Bill, a Labour Party pledge from 2024, aims to boost confidence in the justice system among victims and tackle "from-the-shadows parents" who sexually abuse their own children.
- Family law expert Barbara Mills has highlighted the extended safeguards for children provided by the bill, arguing that parental responsibility should not be inviolable when a parent has committed heinous acts against their child.
- Ireland is also considering family law reforms, with the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025 including Valerie's Law, which proposes to address guardianship rights for parents convicted of killing their partners.
- Jim O’Callaghan, Ireland's current justice minister, has plans to revamp the confidentiality rule for family law proceedings to boost openness and public trust while maintaining privacy and anonymity.
- The general news landscape is buzzing with calls for policy-and-legislation changes to address crime-and-justice issues surrounding child abuse and domestic violence, fostering debates in the realm of politics and relationships.
