Male domestic abuse charity raises concern about Government decision to remove the presumption of parental involvement

28 October 2025

Male domestic abuse charity raises concern about Government decision to remove the presumption of involvement of both parents in the lives of children

Following the Government’s announcement it would remove the presumption (Children Act 1989) that the involvement of both parents after separation is in the best interests of a child, unless rightly there is risk of harm, the ManKind Initiative domestic abuse charity for men has issued the following statement and includes a statement from Professor Ben Hine (University of West London) who is an expert in this field.

The central issues are:

(1) The presumption of contact is not the problem, the application is.

(2) The Government’s report itself actually provides evidence and acknowledgement that the involvement of both parents is positive (unless safety and risk of harm) yet then still recommends removing the presumption. You cannot say both things at the same time.

(3) It undermines the foundational concept that the family unit based on involved and present parents (including post-separation) is a foundation of the British way of life and in the best interests of children and wider society.

(4) It risks making pre-court mediation less likely and adding more distress into family law proceedings.

Professor Ben Hine (Professor of Applied Psychology, University of West London, and, trustee of the ManKind Initiative charity) and who has written extensive evidence-based reports on the impact of family courts, said:

“The review acknowledges strong evidence that parental involvement benefits children, but it still recommends removing the presumption — not because the evidence contradicts it, but because of fears that the presumption may be misapplied in high-risk cases and may bias courts toward unsafe contact.

“Therefore, the issue appears to be one of operationalisation rather than principle: what is needed is clearer guidance, better judicial training, and stronger mechanisms for assessing and managing risk within the existing framework — not the removal of a presumption that is, on balance, supported by the empirical evidence as beneficial to most children’s welfare.

“On the face of it, the Government is trying to hold two opposing positions at the same time which does not work. On the one hand they say involving both parents in the life of a child is positive but then on the other hand, they are removing it from the law.”

The ManKind Initiative charity, added:  

“This decision undermines the whole societal concept that two involved parents are in the interests of children, unless there are concerns of safety and harm, It has far broader implications than just in cases of separation. It will lead to more demands  being placed in the family courts and risk more acrimony.

“The removal of the presumption of involvement with both parents after a separation, unless of course there is risk and harm, undermines how British society recognises the value, importance and benefit of two present parents in the lives of children. The involvement of both parents benefits children educationally, emotionally and improves their life chances. Once the foundation of the family unit, involved parents, is undermined then it undermines a key foundation of the British way of life. It signals broadly that two-parent families are not important.

“The presumption of involvement provided a framework for parents to start the conversation about child arrangements after they split up. It also helped through mediation processes to avoid the family courts being involved. Now this will be removed, there is a live risk that more parents whose separation is filled with rancour  will likely to go straight to the family courts for a final decision on child contact. This increases the risk that some parents may try and cut the other parent out of contact altogether. This leads to even more distress, cost and hostility – none of which is the interests of the children.

“It is of course right that where there are safety concerns then all contact should be removed. It is also right that given we have criminal laws on domestic abuse and coercive control, that any made within a family court setting should be immediately investigated and reported to the police. If allegations are not criminally investigated then effectively it risks family courts becoming domestic abuse courts without police or CPS involvement”

Ends

(1)  About the ManKind Initiative

The ManKind Initiative (www.mankind.org.uk) is the leading national charity which runs a help-line providing, practical information and emotional support for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence. The help-line number is 01823 334244 (weekdays 10am-4pm) which relies on public donations.  It also runs an accredited training course, a national conference and a national services directory.

Registered Charity No. 1089547 – Company Registration No. 3869893

Flook House, Belvedere Road, Taunton, TA1 1BT

www.mankind.org.uk

(2) Journalists can call 07834 452357 for further information.