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Vulnerable Witnesses and Parties within Family and Criminal Proceedings

Protections, Safeguards and Sanctions

Vulnerable Witnesses and Parties within Family and Criminal Proceedings cover

Vulnerable Witnesses and Parties within Family and Criminal Proceedings

Protections, Safeguards and Sanctions

Quantity
Pre-order. Available 27 May 2027
£72.90 RRP £81.00 Website price saving £8.10 (10%)

Payment for this pre-order will be taken when the item becomes available

Description

"...the book fully justifies its title and will earn a well-thumbed place on the bookshelves, not only of children's lawyers, but also of children's guardians and intermediaries who need to understand how the court can, or cannot, assist the vulnerable to give evidence…" - review of 1st edn in Seen and Heard

A step by step guide for lawyers in both family and/or criminal cases with respect to vulnerable people who are connected or party to those proceedings. In criminal proceedings consideration is given to the stages from both a defence and prosecution perspective, whilst in family proceedings there is consideration of all stages of proceedings including the pre-issuing of proceedings and the post final order.

The Second Edition takes account of recent key developments including:

- Updated Toolkits on the www.theadvocatesgateway.org including the latest update in January 2026
- The Equal Treatment Bench Book 2024
- New Practice Guidance: 'The Use of Intermediaries, Lay Advocates and Cognitive Assessments in the Family Court' 2025, along with further guidance in the leading case of Re M (a child: Intermediaries) [2025] EWCA Civ 440
- The significant cases of CM v IP [2022] EWHC 2755 (Fam), BF v LE [2023] EWHC 2009 (Fam), Re X (Domestic Abuse: Participation Directions: Obligation to Consider) [2024] EWFC 121 (B) and Lancashire CC v M [2023] EWFC 30
- Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on interviewing victims and witnesses and guidance on using special measures (2022)
- The new, simplified procedure for notifying courts in criminal proceedings of the intention to use standard special measures when certain vulnerable witnesses are giving evidence (2025)

This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's Family Law online service.

Table of Contents

1 Summary of the Purpose of the Handbook
2 Quick Guides
3 Definitions of Vulnerable People and General Principles
4 Vulnerable People in pre-Proceedings
5 Vulnerable People in Initial Stages of Proceedings
6 Vulnerable People and Case Preparation
7 Vulnerable People at Substantive Hearings
8 Vulnerable People and Giving Evidence
9 Post Proceedings and Ongoing Protections
10 Reporting Restriction Orders
11 The Official Solicitor
12 Appendices

Product details

Published 27 May 2027
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 2nd
Pages 272
ISBN 9781526538468
Imprint Bloomsbury Professional
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Frank Feehan KC

Frank Feehan KC is a family law barrister at 1 Kin…

Author

Caroline Harris

Caroline Harris is a barrister at 1 King's Bench W…

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