Women's Aid has criticised the green paper on children's contact with separated parents for not including adequate safeguards for those affected by domestic violence.

The charity said risk assessments needed to be carried out before contact orders are granted by courts in cases involving violence in the home.

Allegations of abuse have been highlighted in around 30 per cent of cases but courts refused contact in just 1 per cent, leaving children at risk "especially with the current shortage of supervised contact centres," according to the charity, which wants a change in the law so that contact is not awarded until it is proved to be safe.

Barnardo's has also criticised the bill, arguing its proposals are not "child-centred" enough.

Principal policy officer Alan Coombe said that 25 per cent of children whose parents had separated acrimoniously were never given an explanation about why they were fighting.