Refuge’s stance on contact centres;

1 Should there ever be contact when domestic violence is involved

2 Are contact centres the best way; if not, what is the alternative;

3 Should there be more contact centres (do you have any views on how they are funded, or

the lack of funding and centres)?

Sandra Horley OBE, Chief Executive of national domestic violence charity Refuge says:

“Less than one percent of contact applications made by fathers are denied. This is in spite of the fact that domestic violence is known to have occurred in over a third of cases. This has to stop. When there is a history of domestic violence, there needs to be a presumption of no contact until it can be shown to be safe.

We have to consider the danger contact poses for mother and child as well as the fact that violent fathers are not positive role models for their children. Fully trained professionals should be carrying out thorough risk assessment before any contact between a violent father and child is granted. Yet whether down to ignorance or lack of resources, this isn’t happening.

“Many men use contact as a means of continuing their abuse of a woman. Contact visits can also cause further trauma to children who are afraid of their fathers. They worry that their father will follow them and find out where they live or go to school. It is also not uncommon for

children to be kidnapped. Yet tragically, contact arrangements still do not provide the right level of protection for women and children

Children cannot be shared 50/50 between parents along with the DVD collection. Their safety must be the main consideration, over and above what the courts presume to be in their best interests or wishes.

In the case of Natasha, a seven year old I worked with at Refuge; the court welfare officer decided that seeing her father would be in her best interests. It didn’t matter that he had kept her mother tied up all day while Natasha was watching. It didn’t matter that he then shot her mother in the stomach. It didn’t even seem to matter that Natasha had seen all this and was plainly terrified of him. On his release from prison he was granted supervised contact.

“The strong presumption of contact in our legal system means many women are advised by solicitors, and indeed told by judges at directions hearings, that there is no point in contesting contact and they might as well agree to it. When contact is granted, the visits often take place in contact centres, which Refuge knows can place a woman and child at further risk. For example, Natasha’s father was able to whisper threats in his mother tongue that he was going to kill her, without anyone being aware. For non-English speaking families, interpreters must be available to monitor communication between father and children. The centres need a high adult to child ratio and safety procedures in place.

Women must be protected from assault and threats; from being apprehended before or followed after, contact has taken place. The safety of staff at the centers must also be considered. Refuge believes that an urgent review of child contact arrangements is needed. In the meantime, it is essential that the Government provides adequate resources for contact centres. These will help ensure that safety measures protect both the woman and the child.

“It is important to recognise that many women try to keep themselves and their children safe by avoiding contact. Many women are reluctant to use the legal system. They live in fear of being tracked down by the courts and forced into contact arrangements that put themselves and their children in danger.

With the reduction in availability of legal aid, many women cannot afford legal fees. Instead, under pressure from perpetrators, women are pushed into agreeing to unsafe contact arrangements. Some attempt to protect themselves by meeting in public places, however there are often serious repercussions.

One woman, who took her child to the local park to meet his father, was threatened with a baseball bat and forced into the car with him. On arrival at her expartner’s flat, she was repeatedly beaten in front of her 3-year-old son.

“We recognise that there is a lack of supervised contact centres across the UK. But like the rest of the domestic violence sector, funding remains a serious issue. Women and children need a range of services to support their needs. We need more refuge spaces, more community based support. We need prevention and education work in schools and training for professionals, particularly those working in health, education and the criminal justice system

“For Refuge, what must come first is the absolute presumption of no contact if there is history of domestic violence. I am not saying that contact should never be granted when there is a history of domestic violence, simply that we need to be absolutely sure the child will be safe.

The courts must recognise the role they have to play in protecting the basic human right of a child to live in safety. Meticulous risk assessment must precede any contact arrangement and all supervised contact has to be properly resourced, monitored and follow best practice guidelines.