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<p>Every family court has a system to support vulnerable court users. Protective measures
are put in place whenever a court is aware that an individual involved in a case may
be violent. These can include separate waiting areas, additional security and the
use of separate entrances where appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the number
of children or women injured by a perpetrator of domestic violence after a Family
Court decision relating to child contact is not held centrally and could only be obtained
at disproportionate cost by manually checking case files in criminal and family courts
and matching records.</p><p> </p><p>The family court takes the issue of domestic violence
extremely seriously. Where domestic violence or abuse is admitted or proven, any child
arrangements order put in place must protect the safety and wellbeing of the child
and the parent with whom the child is living, and not expose them to the risk of further
harm. In particular, the court must be satisfied that any contact ordered with a parent
who has perpetrated violence or abuse is safe and in the best interests of the child.</p><p>Where
the court does conclude that direct contact is safe and beneficial for the child,
it can impose conditions such as supervised contact to protect the child.</p>
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