The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed that it is ‘currently reviewing the arrangements for providing legal aid to victims of domestic violence in private family law disputes’. The regulations regarding legal aid and domestic violence have been criticised as too restrictive by groups including LAG and Rights of Women.

Meanwhile, President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, has expressed concern about the practice of unrepresented abusers cross-examining their victims in family proceedings (Sandra Laville, ‘Family courts chief backs end to abusers cross-examining their victims’, Guardian, 30 December 2016). The MoJ says it is working with ‘senior judges to consider additional protections’ (see page 6 of this issue).