The Lead

The Lead

"Trauma Factories": How paralysed family courts are destroying lives

Children’s lives are on hold, families are broken, and abusers are exploiting delays in the badly overworked, badly underfunded legal system.

The Lead's avatar
Zoe Grunewald's avatar
The Lead and Zoe Grunewald
Dec 04, 2024
∙ Paid

CW: Contains references to abuse

a large room with wooden floors and pillars
Photo by Dragon White Munthe on Unsplash

In August, when UK streets erupted in xenophobic rioting, the government's response was swift and decisive. Newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer mobilised police forces, fast-tracked prosecutions and told judges to work around the clock. The violence was quelled.

But the governm…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of The Lead Editors.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 The Lead Newspapers Limited · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture