Domestic Abuse Risk
Expert Witness Reports
Our chambers prepares CPR Part 35-compliant domestic abuse risk assessment reports for civil, family, and criminal proceedings. Our experts use structured tools including the sara risk assessment and B-SAFER to evaluate coercive control, physical violence, and future harm risk in compliance with Practice Direction 35 and the Civil Justice Council 2014 Guidance.
Evidential risk assessment
for domestic abuse cases.
Our chambers prepares domestic abuse risk assessment reports for civil, family, and criminal proceedings. These reports evaluate the risk of future harm, coercive control, and physical violence using validated tools such as the sara risk assessment and B-SAFER, ensuring compliance with CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35.
Members of our chambers hold GMC Specialist Register or HCPC registration and are instructed by solicitors, insurers, and local authority legal teams. Our reports are used in applications for non-molestation orders, child arrangement proceedings, and criminal sentencing under the Sentencing Act 2020.
Key stages where risk
assessment is critical.
Non-molestation orders
Our reports support applications for non-molestation orders under the Family Law Act 1996, providing an evidence-based evaluation of risk to inform judicial decisions on protection measures.
Child arrangement proceedings
Instructions accepted by our chambers include risk assessments for child arrangement proceedings under the Children Act 1989, addressing coercive control and domestic violence expert witness evidence.
Criminal sentencing
Our experts prepare domestic abuse risk assessment reports for criminal sentencing under the Sentencing Act 2020, assisting the court in determining appropriate disposal and risk management plans.
What the report contains,
section by section.
Expert qualifications
GMC Specialist Register or HCPC registration, MRCPsych or BPS Chartered status, and the expert’s experience in domestic abuse risk assessment and coercive control evaluations.
Background & history
Personal, social, and relationship history, including prior incidents of domestic violence, coercive control, and any relevant criminal or civil proceedings.
Risk assessment tools
Application of the sara risk assessment and B-SAFER, with detailed scoring and clinical interpretation of findings in accordance with best practice guidelines.
Clinical findings
Mental state examination, diagnostic formulation under ICD-11 or DSM-5-TR, and the expert’s observations on the impact of coercive control and domestic violence.
Risk formulation
Expert opinion on the likelihood of future harm, including physical violence, psychological abuse, and stalking behaviours, with reference to structured risk assessment tools.
Risk management
Recommendations for protective measures, therapeutic interventions, and monitoring strategies to mitigate identified risks, tailored to the specific legal context.
Statement of truth
CPR Part 35 declaration of compliance, signed statement of truth, and confirmation of the expert’s overriding duty to the court under CPR 35.3.
How the assessment
is conducted.
Our experts follow a structured methodology to ensure compliance with CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35. Each step is documented transparently, allowing the court to trace the reasoning from instruction to opinion.
-
01
Records review
Comprehensive review of police reports, medical records, social services files, and any prior civil or criminal proceedings to establish the historical context of domestic abuse.
-
02
Clinical interview
Structured interview with the subject, focusing on patterns of coercive control, physical violence, and psychological abuse, conducted in a trauma-informed manner.
-
03
Risk assessment tools
Administration of the sara risk assessment and B-SAFER, with detailed scoring and clinical interpretation to evaluate future harm risk.
-
04
Collateral information
Review of witness statements, victim impact statements, and any third-party accounts to corroborate findings and refine risk formulation.
-
05
Formulation & opinion
Integration of clinical findings, risk assessment scores, and collateral information into a coherent opinion on future harm risk for the court.
Proceedings where domestic
abuse risk is assessed.
Our chambers accepts instructions for domestic abuse risk assessment reports across civil, family, and criminal jurisdictions. Our experts provide evidence for courts, tribunals, and public authorities.
Questions from
solicitors we work with.
Can your experts conduct a sara risk assessment for family proceedings?
Yes. Members of our chambers are trained in the sara risk assessment and B-SAFER, and routinely prepare reports for family proceedings under the Children Act 1989 and Family Procedure Rules 25.
Do your reports address coercive control as defined in the Serious Crime Act 2015?
Yes. Our domestic abuse risk assessment reports explicitly evaluate coercive control under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015, with reference to patterns of behaviour and psychological impact.
Are your experts available for joint expert meetings under CPR 35.12?
Yes. Our experts participate in joint expert meetings and prepare joint statements under CPR 35.12, ensuring compliance with the Civil Procedure Rules and Practice Direction 35.
Can you provide a domestic violence expert witness for criminal cases?
Yes. Our chambers includes forensic psychiatrists and psychologists who accept instructions for criminal proceedings, including sentencing reports under the Sentencing Act 2020.
How quickly can you prepare a domestic abuse risk assessment report?
3–6 weeks. Most instructions are allocated within 48 hours, and reports are delivered within 3–6 weeks of full records being received. Urgent cases are prioritised.
Do your experts hold the necessary regulatory qualifications?
Yes. Our experts are registered on the GMC Specialist Register or HCPC, hold MRCPsych or BPS Chartered status, and are recognised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Need an expert for your
domestic abuse risk case?
Send a brief case summary — parties, legal context, and any time-critical deadlines — and our chambers will confirm expert availability and timescales within one working day.