Dr Adrienne Barnett
Reader in Law

Domestic Abuse, Parental Alienation and the Family Courts: a collaborative action research project
Funder: BA/Leverhulme Small Grants Scheme
Duration: May 2022 - July 2025

Parental Alienation (PA) is an emerging area of scholarship and a highly contested concept. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of PA. It is understood by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) as “when a child’s resistance or hostility towards one parent is not justified and is the result of psychological manipulation by the other parent” (Cafcass, 2021). There is growing evidence from a range of jurisdictions internationally that claims of PA have become prolific in cases involving domestic abuse (DA), and growing concerns that such claims are being made by perpetrators of DA against their victims with the aim of negating DA. There are extremely few empirical studies on PA in England and Wales and there are no studies that have looked specifically at the experiences of victims of DA who have been accused of PA in the family courts, the way in which courts respond to victims of DA in these proceedings, the trajectory and outcomes of their cases, and the impact of accusations of PA on victims and children. This research aims to explore how PA is used in, and impacts on, child arrangements cases where DA is an issue, how family courts respond to accusations of PA, and how barriers to safeguarding victims of DA and children can be overcome. This study adopts a collaborative action research framework with the charity, Rights of Women, who are running a funded project to provide advice and arrange representation for victims of DA who have been accused of PA. The research will involve interviews with 25 participants in the Rights of Women project and analysis of secondary, anonymised case data. The findings will develop recommendations for enhancing family court responses to DA to achieve safer outcomes for victims and children.

Fact-Finding Hearings and the Implementation of the President's Practice Direction: Residence and Contact Orders: Domestic Violence and Harm
Funder: Family Justice Council
Duration: January 2011 - February 2013

This project, undertaken by Professor Rosemary Hunter (Primary investigator) and Adrienne Barnett (co-investigator) aimed to determine whether Practice Direction 12J was operating as it was intended to do and if not, what problems were being experienced with its implementation and what steps could be necessary to overcome such problems. Practice Direction 12J to the Family Procedure Rules stipulates best practice for courts and professionals in residence and contact proceedings (now child arrangements proceedings) where domestic violence is an issue. A national online survey was administered to judges, magistrates, family lawyers, officers of CAFCASS and other relevant professionals, which produced both quantitative and qualitative data, which was analysed thematically. The researchers' report was published by the Family Justice Council in 2013, and in 2014 Practice Direction 12J was amended to reflect many of its recommendations.

Fact-Finding Hearings and the Implementation of the President’s Practice Direction: Residence and Contact Orders: Domestic Violence and Harm
Funder: Family Justice Council
Duration: January 2011 - January 2013

Professor Rosemary Hunter (Principal Investigator) and Adrienne Barnett (co-investigator) were awarded a grant by the Family Justice Council to undertake national research in order to determine whether Practice Direction 12J to the Family Procedure Rules 2010, which stipulates best practice for courts when adjudicating on residence and contact disputes where allegations of domestic violence are made was operating in the way it was intended to do; and if not what problems were being experienced with its implementation; and finally, what steps may be necessary to overcome any such problems. A national online survey was administered to judges, magistrates, family court advisers employed by CAFCASS, family lawyers and other interested parties. Both quantitative and qualitative data was obtained and analysed thematically.