In its written submission, the Sheriffs’ Association suggested additional sentencing powers for contempt of court would be welcome, such as a community payback order with the requirement to engage with social work, a requirement to attend parenting classes, or a deferral of sentence for good behaviour to allow contact to take place.
Other evidence, however, expressed similar concerns to those set out in the Policy Memorandum, namely that imposing sanctions such as unpaid work on a parent may not be in the best interests of the child.