Long overdue: Government repeals presumption of parental involvement

Last night (21st October 2025), the government announced plans to repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989, to protect children from abusive parents.

Responding to this, Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said:

“We strongly welcome these plan to repeal the presumption of parental involvement, which will better protect children from abuse and save lives. This is a long overdue change to how our family courts have operated.

We pay tribute to the enormous courage of Claire Throssell MBE, who has campaigned tirelessly for this change following the murder of her sons by their father. This change will have a far reaching impact on the lives of victims of domestic abuse, including children.

We are clear however that this move needs to be supported by action to reform the “pro contact culture” that has led to the routine minimising and dismissal of serious concerns about domestic violence and child abuse.

We urge the government to build on today’s announcement by pursuing further reform to the family courts and finally implementing the recommendations of the 2020 Harm Panel report.”

ENDS