UK: Parents 'weaponising' domestic violence orders, claims charity

Article here. Excerpt:

'The number of non-molestation orders – issued by courts to prevent domestic abuse – has rocketed by 37% over the past five years because they are being exploited to secure legal aid, according to the charity Families Needs Fathers.

The “weaponisation” of court procedures by “angry and vengeful parents” is encouraging false allegations and fuelling conflict between separating couples, the head of the organisation has claimed.

The figures are based on the latest quarterly statistics produced by the Ministry of Justice. Since 2013, when the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (Laspo) came into force the number of non-molestation orders issued by English and Welsh courts has increased from fewer than 20,000 to more than 26,000 a year.

That increase, equivalent to a 37.3% rise, has been linked to the withdrawal of legal aid in all divorce cases except those where there is evidence of domestic violence. As many as 80% of all family law cases now involve one party who is unrepresented.'