Domestic abuse allegations and convictions of parents who have perpetrated abuse are not being adequately captured by Scottish civil courts during child contact hearings, a new study by the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh Napier has found.

Researchers discovered family lawyers were heavily reliant on their clients telling them about ongoing or past domestic abuse as there is no formal mechanism for them to be informed about criminal proceedings.

The research team also found a worrying lack of awareness among those lawyers who were surveyed on how domestic abuse affects children.

Child contact orders are considered as part of civil court proceedings where a Sheriff decides whether, how much and what form of contact a non-residential parent should have with their child during the week and on holidays.

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