More than 20,000 people have signed a petition initiated by former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, also known as Mel B, calling for mandatory domestic abuse training for judges.

Mel B, who is a patron of Women’s Aid, a national charity dedicated to ending abuse against women and children, has frequently shared her experiences as a survivor of abuse. She argues that family courts in England and Wales are not safe for domestic abuse survivors and that judges need comprehensive training on the issue.

The petition highlights that approximately 60% of child arrangement cases in England and Wales involve domestic abuse. However, many judges misunderstand this and dismiss it as “parental conflict.”

Mel B states, “Women who fear for their children’s lives – knowing that abusers can and do harm and even kill their children during contact visits – are often labeled as troublemakers or manipulative when they try to protect their children. Orders made in family courts every day force women and children into contact with dangerous abusers. Women’s Aid reports that going to family courts can be as traumatic as the abuse itself.”

On behalf of domestic abuse survivors, Mel B calls for the Judicial College to implement compulsory, ongoing training designed and delivered by experts. She also urges the government to be accountable and adopt recommendations from the Harm Panel Report 2020. This report includes a crucial change: in cases involving domestic abuse or serious harm, there should not be a presumption of contact; children’s safety must come first.

Mel B continues, “Our research shows that survivors do not feel that their concerns are heard or acted upon – this is unacceptable, and we cannot wait any longer for change.”

In response, the Judicial Office stated, “Judicial training is a matter for the Judicial College. All family judges and magistrates must complete an induction before hearing any cases and engage in regular continuation training, both of which include domestic abuse training.”

This petition represents a significant movement towards improving the safety and fairness of family courts for domestic abuse survivors.