family court

She said: "There is a fundamental lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to judges and magistrates recognising domestic abuse, recognising coercive control, and hearing child voices in the family court system."

The organisation represents the interests of children and young people in the family court, and independently advises on what is safe for children and in their best interests.

If it is then decided the child is at risk of harm, an application can be made to the family court for orders to protect them.

In the family courts, a different IT flaw caused thousands of documents to go missing, sources say.

This marked the start of a long and often chaotic journey through the family court system, in which Gordon and Marten repeatedly switched lawyers, represented themselves, or failed to turn up for hearings.