Overview
- The repeal, set out in the Courts and Tribunals Bill, would remove the default assumption that ongoing contact with both parents is in a child’s best interests.
- Judges would conduct an open‑minded welfare assessment and could order supervised contact, permit written‑only communication, or bar contact entirely where safety risks are found.
- The government dedicated the measure to campaigner Claire Throssell in memory of her sons, with survivors’ groups and Women’s Aid welcoming the announcement.
- The Bill is scheduled for Second Reading in the House of Commons on 10 March, so the change still requires parliamentary approval before it can become law.
- The legislation forms part of a wider justice package including proposed ‘Swift Courts’, judge‑only trials for complex fraud cases, venue‑setting powers, and extended magistrates’ sentencing powers.