Nadeem Thanvi, Managing Partner, and Somia Siddiq, children law specialist, featured in The Times on Thursday 20th February 2020, discussing their experience of cases concerning returnees from Syria, and the wider implications where there are both family and criminal proceedings.
The article focuses on a case where ITN represented a client in the Court of Appeal following an application by the Police for disclosure of material in the family proceedings. This included statements filed in the proceedings as directed by the family court. A blog on this issue can be found at: Police Disclosure in Family Cases.
Nadeem told The Times:
“Police may find themselves [further] frustrated by the fact that individuals in these circumstances have the right to remain silent under questioning.”
He added that:
“it is a matter of concern that a client, who may still be a suspect in a criminal investigation and who has the right to remain silent in that investigation is at the same time effectively compelled to answer questions in a different arena.”
Somia, the solicitor who represented our client in the family proceedings said:
“the importance of ensuring confidentiality in family proceedings and of ensuring that family proceedings are not viewed as adjuncts to a criminal investigation are key to the interests of justice.”
If you require advice or assistance or any of the issues raised then please do not hesitate to get in touch using our contact form. You can also call us on 020 3909 8100 and ask to speak to Mitali Zakaria or Somia Siddiq in the Family Department.