Article 15 Amendments to the Family Proceedings Rules 1991

After rule 4.17A insert the following rule—

“Service of risk assessments

44.17AA.

(1)

Where an officer of the service or a Welsh family proceedings officer has filed a risk assessment with the court, subject to paragraph (2), the proper officer shall as soon as practicable serve copies of the risk assessment on—

(a)

each party; and

(b)

any local authority that is preparing or has prepared a report under section 14A(8) or (9).

(2)

Before serving the risk assessment, the court must consider whether, in order to prevent a risk of harm to the child, it is necessary for—

(a)

information to be deleted from a copy of the risk assessment before that copy is served on a party; or

(b)

service of a copy of the risk assessment (whether with information deleted from it or not) on a party to be delayed for a specified period,

and may direct accordingly.”.