A BASINGSTOKE family lawyer has said that family courts are facing "unprecedented backlogs" with the court system currently in crisis.

Rob Parker, who has been a family lawyer for 15 years and currently works for Lamb Brooks Solicitors in Basingstoke has said the "system is in crisis".

He told the Gazette that overstretched family courts are facing unprecedented backlogs and families are frequently left waiting long periods to sort out finances and children arrangements after divorce.

He also said the situation is "acutely felt at Basingstoke Family Court" where, since May, there have been no full-time District Judges assigned to the court. 

He added: "I have been informed by the court today (10 November 2022) that they are unlikely to have replacements until September next year at the earliest. Unsurprisingly, this is causing a log jam in the local family justice system and is compounding the stress of separating families, not to mention the fact that justice delayed is justice denied."

SEE ALSO: Old Basing: Seven homes approved as developer improves plans

Mr Parker said that this has had a huge impact on his clients.

He added: "It has an emotional impact and places a huge strain on them and it also places a huge strain on children. It also has a financial impact, my clients are having to pay for a barrister for a case that never goes ahead."

The news comes after new data from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has highlighted the devastating delays and backlogs that continue to hamper the family courts.

As of September, the backlog is sitting at 110,425 cases – a two per cent month-on-month increase. This is also a striking increase of 6.4 per cent from the figure of 103,790 seen in September of last year.

READ MORE: Brighton Hill murder: Accused killers joked about committing a crime

Delays have eased slightly for Public matters such as S31 Care & Supervision Orders, which at an average of 45.1 days are now two days quicker than they were in August and one day quicker than this time last year

Law Society president Lubna Shuja, has said the society is “extremely concerned about the effect delays and backlogs in the family courts are having on people seeking justice”.

She added: “The ones who are impacted by this delay the most are families up and down the country. Some are dealing with deeply distressing issues – securing a child arrangement order, seeking protection from domestic abuse and controlling behaviour, or finalising a divorce.”

Mr Parker is one of the 6,500 family professionals who are members of Resolution who organise Good Divorce Week. This year Good Divorce Week take place on November 28 to December 1. It aims to highlight the crisis in the family courts and raise awareness about how families can resolve their disputes away from court.

He is calling on Basingstoke's MP Maria Miller to meet with him and his team to discuss the issues in family courts.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "We are investing £324 million over the next three years to speed up justice across family and civil courts. As a result, sitting days reached a historical high in 2021 – 17 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.

“Basingstoke Law Courts continue to sit two courts each day, and two new district judges will start sitting in January.”

It told the Gazette that Basingstoke Law Courts is regularly served by a salaried district judge from a neighbouring court and several deputy district judges. Two new district judge appointments will additionally start sitting in January.