Cafcass planning to screen every case

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service plans to screen every case it takes up for safeguarding concerns by April 2007, under a policy published for consultation last week.

The police to find out about any criminal convictions, domestic violence incidents or public protection arrangements involving important adults in a child’s life.

It would also contact councils about children in need and child protection concerns.

The checks would be most relevant in private law cases because, in public law cases, Cafcass would contact the police only if councils had failed to do so or when its information was more than six months old.

The framework also says Cafcass officers should request to make personal representations to the court in private law cases where judges do not accept their recommendations and there are fears that children will be put at risk as a result.