Amendments to the Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
A review of the protocol concluded that it was sound and should remain in force as published in 2024, subject to the amendments set out below.
A Frequently Asked Questions document has been produced.
Annexes 1, 2 and 3 and consequently the Protocol have been amended to refer to handling instructions rather than an undertaking and to refer to LEDS rather than PNC.
Following feedback received during the review period, concerns were raised that the Annex 5 document may be overly complex for use in private law proceedings. The Family-Criminal Interface Steering Committee also expressed a preference for a single template order being used across all proceedings to promote consistency and ease of use.
As a result, Annex 4 and Annex 5 have been amended to create a streamlined approach that captures all proceedings within one framework. The revised documents are more user-friendly and are intended to assist both the court and parties by providing a clearer and more consistent template for use across cases. The Protocol reference to Annex 5 has been amended.
The updated versions of the annexes are now available for use.
Daeth adolygiad o’r protocol i’r casgliad ei fod yn gadarn ac y dylai barhau mewn grym fel y’i cyhoeddwyd yn 2024, yn amodol ar y diwygiadau a nodir isod.
Cynhyrchwyd dogfen Cwestiynau Cyffredin.
Mae Atodiadau 1, 2 a 3 ac o ganlyniad y Protocol wedi cael eu diwygio i gyfeirio at gyfarwyddiadau trin yn hytrach nag ymgymeriad ac i gyfeirio at LEDS yn hytrach na PNC.
Yn dilyn adborth a gafwyd yn ystod y cyfnod adolygu, mynegwyd pryderon y gallai dogfen Atodiad 5 fod yn rhy gymhleth i’w defnyddio mewn achosion cyfraith breifat. Dywedodd y Pwyllgor Llywio Rhyngwyneb Teulu-Troseddol hefyd y byddai’n well ganddynt weld un gorchymyn templed yn cael ei ddefnyddio ym mhob achos er cysondeb a hwylustod.
O ganlyniad, mae Atodiad 4 ac Atodiad 5 wedi cael eu diwygio i greu dull gweithredu symlach sy’n dal yr holl achosion o fewn un fframwaith. Mae’r dogfennau diwygiedig yn haws eu defnyddio a’u bwriad yw helpu’r llys a’r partïon drwy ddarparu templed cliriach a mwy cyson i’w ddefnyddio ar draws achosion. Mae cyfeiriad y Protocol at Atodiad 5 wedi cael ei ddiwygio.
Mae fersiynau wedi’u diweddaru o’r atodiadau bellach ar gael i’w defnyddio.
Launch of the Protocol
(Original article, published March 2024)
The Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol (PDF) comes into effect on 1 March 2024. It replaces the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and care directions hearings.
A group comprised of representatives from the judiciary, local authorities, police, National Police Chief’s Council and Crown Prosecution Service have devised and developed this Protocol through consultation and working together. It replaces the previous 2013 version to ensure practice remains relevant and covers all circumstances where there is to be an exchange of information and material between criminal and family agencies and jurisdictions.
The senior judiciary, which has approved this Protocol, wish to convey their thanks to the working group.
This new Protocol relates to all private and public family law proceedings, including contemplated public law proceedings, and all material held by the police.
It will be reviewed by a working group comprising the judiciary, local authorities, police and Crown Prosecution Service based on the experience of its implementation, in 2025.
The protocol is in three parts:
Part A: disclosure from the police to family proceedings
Part B: disclosure sought by an investigator
Part C: linked directions hearings