Hannah Summers
@hansummers
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Journalist covering the family courts for @TBIJ and partners | Best specialist journalist 2023 Freelance Journalism Awards | Shortlisted - Paul Foot Award 2023
Joined December 2009
A mother whose rape allegation was wrongly dismissed by the family court has won a High Court bid to write and speak publicly about her ordeal, using an alias. The judge ruled her rights to tell her story in her own words were 'weighty and important'.
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So I tweeted that my 4yr old daughter wished she was a boy so she could be a fireman and this is the response from West Midlands Fire Service. You lot are amazing! Thank you so much - I can't wait to pass on the message. She'll love it #girlscandoanything #firefightingsexism.
@hansummers .Esme, lots of our firefighters are girls and boys - some of them want to say hello to you! We would love to meet you and show you what we do. You can be a firefighter too! #firefightingsexism #thisgirlcan @NFCC_FireChiefs @StaffsFire @LondonFire Let's keep this going!
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My 4yr old came home yesterday saying she wished she was a boy so she could be a fireman. When I said girls can be firefighters too she said ‘but I’ve seen in books they are all boys and I don’t want to be the only girl.’ Any good vids/books I can show her? #FirefightingSexism.
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Update: @WestMidsFire - Esme has now watched the video - on repeat! And LOVES it. She now firmly believes 100% that she can be a girl AND a firefighter so thanks again - job done! She's also very excited about the invite to visit and would like to try on the yellow helmet!.
So I tweeted that my 4yr old daughter wished she was a boy so she could be a fireman and this is the response from West Midlands Fire Service. You lot are amazing! Thank you so much - I can't wait to pass on the message. She'll love it #girlscandoanything #firefightingsexism.
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THREAD: A vulnerable 18-year-old gave birth alone in a prison cell more than 12 hours after her calls for a nurse were ignored. Today the PPO published a devastating report into the circumstances surrounding the death of her baby girl at HMP Bronzefield.
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Incredibly touched by all the responses to my tweet re my daughter wanting to be a firefighter and the awesome vid by @WestMidsFire Thanks for all the fantastic photos of women firefighters - you all totally rock. Esme has drawn a pic of herself as a firefighter to say thank you
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We have just heard that the Court of Appeal has granted @louisetickle and I permission to appeal the High Court decision to keep the names of judges who oversaw the Sara Sharif family proceedings anonymous. Huge thanks to our barrister @ChrismdBarnes. Hearing in January.
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@WestMidsFire @NFCC_FireChiefs @StaffsFire @LondonFire This is amazing all of you - thank you so much. I can't wait to show her when she gets home from nursery.
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It is hard to comprehend the abhorrent details of this case. Gisèle Pélicot has told a court she waived her right to anonymity "for every woman who has been drugged without knowing it".
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Exclusive: Pressure mounts on Patel as more than 300 sign open letter urging her to grant asylum to 11-year-old girl at risk of #FGM @nazirafzal @LeylaHussein @ChildrensComm @VictimsComm @JolyonMaugham @BarristerSecret @DrProudman @NickTorfaen @DavidLammy.
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My story on Priti Patel under fire for failing to protect 11-year-old girl found by judges to be at high risk of #FGM @EVAWuk @NimkoAli @HiboWardere @AIRECentre @jessphillips @DrProudman @KNFMHBV @BarristerSecret @centreWJ @womensaid @IKWRO @AlfDubs.
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A father without parental responsibility who has been charged with rape - and whose son was allegedly conceived through the rape of his niece - has won an appeal to be joined as a party in care proceedings relating to the boy. My report:
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Nine fathers accused of child sexual abuse have been given access to their alleged victims by the family court, according to a new study. It found one father allowed access to his child repeatedly raped her over many years. Via @lucethornton
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My @TBIJ report on how the family court gave a serial rapist unsupervised access to his child was published in partnership with @ObserverUK | Kristoffer White has a conviction for raping a stranger and was also found to have raped the child's mother. 🧵
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Love it when something positive comes out of social media.
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I've been following a number of family court parental alienation cases over the last 18 months & have seen a pattern of mothers making allegations of domestic abuse or child sex abuse being invited to undergo psychological assessments before being labelled mad, bad or unstable.🧵.
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A ban on the naming of judges in the historic family proceedings relating to Sara Sharif will be lifted next week after an appeal brought by @louisetickle and me was allowed. Huge thanks to our barrister @ChrismdBarnes 👉
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A mother who won an appeal in the family court has criticised Cafcass as a "harmful organisation" and "not fit for purpose" after the agency recommended a convicted sex offender who also raped her should have contact with their child. My report for @TBIJ
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I won an application to name a court-appointed expert whose qualifications were challenged by a mother who said key evidence they provided resulted in her children being permanently removed from her care against their wishes after she was accused of 'PA'.
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1/NEW: A father who was found to have raped his ex-partner after applying to the family court to spend more time with their son has been stripped of his parental responsibility and ordered to pay £30,000 towards the mother’s legal fees. My report for @TBIJ
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On the front page of today's @ObserverUK @beatrixcampbell and I expose how children are being harmed by life-changing decisions made behind closed doors in the family courts by unregulated experts "without the necessary qualifications".
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For those who would like to know more about @Sistah_Space founder Ngozi Fulani and her work - I wrote this profile piece in 2019 👇
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In today's @ObserverUK @louisetickle and I write about how our challenge to the ban on naming judges was not about shaming individuals - but rather the wider principle that those who exercise state power need to be known.
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EXCL:1/The Met Police have won an appeal after a judge made an order blocking them from interviewing two children who made allegations of abuse against their father.They are the subject of long and complex litigation involving 'parental alienation' claims.
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Suzanne Martin @AndhaBandar and I have won an application to name a serial rapist who a judge ruled could have unsupervised contact with his child. The mother appealed that decision and won. She also supported our application to name her rapist. The father and Cafcass opposed it.
Hannah Summers & Anor v Kristopher Paul Arthur White & Ors [2024] EWFC 182 (4 July 2024):.Applications to permit publication of name of father in children proceedings, following findings of serious abuse against him. Applications granted.
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I've now reported on several cases where a man found by the family court to have raped the mother of his child, has made allegations of 'parental alienation'. Those men include sex offender Kristoffer White who also has a criminal conviction for raping a stranger. Short 🧵.
A mother who won an appeal in the family court has criticised Cafcass as a "harmful organisation" and "not fit for purpose" after the agency recommended a convicted sex offender who also raped her should have contact with their child. My report for @TBIJ
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Many women I've interviewed have described the act of 'love bombing' where in a new relationship they are showered with affection before a new partner later becomes controlling and abusive. Encouraging to see this tactic included in CPS guidance.
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I spoke to the @CommissionerDA about her latest report published today. It calls for urgent reforms to the family justice system in England and Wales which, she claims, retraumatises victims, minimises abuse and fails to hear the voice of the child. 🧵.
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1/A convicted rapist described as a 'danger to women and children' has had his parental responsibility revoked. Kristoffer White was previously permitted contact with his daughter but her mother made an appeal. My report on the final hearing for @TBIJ
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Pleased to see my family court story in print this morning in @ObserverUK - our @TBIJ publishing partner. This mother told me she felt badly let down by the original judge who heard her case but also by @MyCafcass - after the children's guardian downplayed her allegation of rape.
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EXCL: Mother's ordeal after judge dismisses rape allegation in error: My latest report for @TBIJ describes how the concept of parental alienation was used to counter allegations of coercive control and rape. 🧵
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A social worker who abused his ex partner has lost his battle to stop details of his case being shared with the regulator Social Work England. It is only because the mother in this case brought an appeal that the findings of abuse will be shared. Short 🧵
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NEW: An undercover investigation from @TBIJ and @tortoise reveals the biases of court-appointed psychologist Melanie Gill whose advice has been pivotal in the removal of children from mothers accused of parental alienation. @louisetickle and I report:
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A man who raped his wife and frequently wore a body-cam in the home to film his partner & kids attempted to manipulate the family courts into believing he was a victim of domestic abuse, a judge has found. My @TBIJ report in partnership with @ObserverUK 👉
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The new government must put family court reform on the agenda if it hopes to tackle violence against women and girls, charities supporting survivors have warned. My latest report for @TBIJ 👇
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Pregnant women in English prisons are seven times more likely than the general population to have a stillbirth. Meanwhile 25% of babies born to women in prison were admitted to a neonatal unit compared to national figure of 14%. My report w @nic__murray
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'Private companies are given huge contracts, they choose to scrimp on quantity and quality to maximise profits, and they leave vulnerable individuals and families facing impossible decisions about how to feed themselves and their children'.
Kids from disadvantaged backgrounds – clinically vulnerable adults – they all deserve better. And as taxpayers, we are entitled to answers: why is our money going to private companies who are enriching themselves at the expense of the vulnerable?
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I spoke to @BarristerSecret about their new book, the diversity drain at the Criminal Bar and why trials without juries as a solution to the backlog of crown court cases in England and Wales would be 'radical and dangerous'. #FakeLaw
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NEW: I'm working on a project with @TBIJ to examine how the family courts deal with allegations of abuse amid growing concerns the views of children are being lost in private law cases and survivors put at further risk. #familycourtfiles.
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In short, there was no plan for women refusing care. The day before she went into labour Ms A told a nurse she would “kill herself” if her baby was taken away. She was put on ‘extended observations’ meaning regular checks by a nurse including x2 a night – but this did not happen.
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A convicted rapist who was previously allowed to have unsupervised time with his child has been stripped of his parental responsibility by a family court judge. My report for @ObserverUK in partnership with @TBIJ 👉
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I wrote about the new Cafcass guidance to better protect victims of domestic abuse. The new policy says domestic abuse should not be downplayed as “historical”, nor should a person’s reports of abuse be described as “claims” or “allegations”. Read more 👉
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While the teenager had refused to engage with midwives because she was “sad, angry and scared” fearing, with good reason, her baby would be taken into care. McAllister found the midwives’ approach to be “inflexible, unimaginative and insufficiently trauma-informed”.
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PPO Sue McAllister found a catalogue of failures by prison & health workers. She found maternity care at the Sodexo-run prison to be “outdated and inadequate”. She said: “Ms A gave birth alone in her cell overnight without medical assistance. This should never have happened.”.
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The teenager known as ‘Ms A’ was on remand at the time raising vital questions about why she was there in the first place. She had experienced a traumatic childhood and was in prison for the first time facing charges of robbery.
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NEW: The government has tabled an amendment to ban virginity 'repair' surgery. I spoke to one survivor whose parents tried to force her to have the surgery after she was raped as a schoolgirl. She said the new law would protect others from abuse.
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Mother jailed for contempt of court after posting details of family case on Facebook. The woman claimed her children were unfairly taken from her and told the judge she was "emotionally and financially destroyed". By @BrianfaFarmer
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Solidarity with barristers beginning their first whole week of strike action today. "Without proper funding there can be no diversity at the criminal bar & our judiciary will be deprived of the talent of hundreds of women and minorities from ordinary backgrounds." @TheCriminalBar.
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A copy of @BarristerSecret book to be sent to every MP after crowd funding campaign. The message? ‘The criminal justice system is on its knees’.
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NEW: Why did Surrey County Council give #SaraSharif 's case to an inexperienced social worker? | Pivotal report was considered by senior judge at final hearing who made ultimate decision that Sara should live with her father. @louisetickle and I report:
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Thrilled to have made the Paul Foot Award 2023 long list for my reporting on the use of unregulated psychologists in the family courts. Special mention to my colleague @beatrixcampbell and thanks to editors @lucyJrock and @rl_allison.
Journalists have shown once more that there are always new stories to unearth and new ways to tell them. We are pleased to announce the longlist for the 2023 Paul Foot Award.
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Valerie's Law - after Valerie Forde who was murdered along with her toddler - will save the lives of black women who report domestic abuse to the police but are routinely ignored or disbelieved, says Ngozi Fulani of @Sistah_Space My report for @guardian
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Journalists win court fight to publish sex offender's name | My report for @guardian on how a family judge ruled a serial rapist, who had been permitted by the court to have contact with his child, could be named. @AndhaBandar and I made the application.
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Family court judges who instruct unregulated psychologists to carry out assessments and give evidence should issue a judgment explaining their decision, according to updated guidance from the Family Justice Council and @BPSOfficial #familycourt
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Thrilled to announce I'll be working with @TBIJ for the next two years reporting on the family courts & continuing our investigative series #familycourtfiles which examines how allegations of domestic/sexual abuse are handled by the family justice system 🧵
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Thanks to @BBCWomansHour for having me on to talk about the case of Sara Sharif & the application by myself and @louisetickle for the expansive disclosure of documents. Plus why banning the naming of a senior judge who oversaw three sets of proceedings sets dangerous precedent.
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Excited to share I've made the shortlist for the Paul Foot Award 2023 for my reporting on the use of unregulated psychologists in the family courts. Congrats to all the other nominees - tough competition!.
The shortlist has been chosen. Chair of judges Pádraig Reidy: "The judges were hugely impressed by the range of entries this year. The eventual shortlist was hotly debated; with so many hard-hitting stories, choosing six can feel like an impossible task." .
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BREAKING - SARA SHARIF: @louisetickle + I just heard that the outrageous ban on naming of the judges who oversaw the historic family court cases will, despite our attempts to persuade Williams J otherwise, be maintained. Backed by @tortoise, we've just asked permission to appeal.
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1/ Former TV presenter 'verbally and physically' abused by ex partner judge rules: It's unusual for parties to be ID in family cases but journalist Brian Farmer applied to name them after Fathers 4 Justice campaigned to have Katy Ashworth sacked.
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NEW: @TBIJ names serial rapist following family judge ruling there were compelling public interest grounds in identifying Kristoffer White. The former soldier was permitted contact with his child despite safeguarding concerns. Read the full story here 👉🧵
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1/Members of the press do not need to justify their attendance at family court hearings. They are entitled to attend as the eyes and ears of the public. Legal reps/parties should not be 'surprised' if a journalist is at a hearing and they do not need to give notice to attend.
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Esme will be delighted that Dany Cotton, @LFBCommissioner has retweeted her drawing. Thank you!.
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A mother who claimed findings of 'alienation' by an unregulated expert led to the removal of her children has lost her appeal. It was dismissed by England's most senior fc judge after the court was told 'anyone can call themselves a psychologist'.
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“I have become a childless mother. There is nowhere that I can go to grieve. It’s as if there was a sudden accident and they have died. I’m grieving the death of children who are still alive and there is no closure in sight.” - A mother whose children were removed by the court.
NEW: An undercover investigation from @TBIJ and @tortoise reveals the biases of court-appointed psychologist Melanie Gill whose advice has been pivotal in the removal of children from mothers accused of parental alienation. @louisetickle and I report:
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"The child sexual abuse cases that come to my office. are concerning. They involve children’s experiences of sexual abuse, and their wishes and feelings regarding parental contact, being dismissed. & reframed by family court as the consequence of ‘parental alienation’.".
I have spent many years working to expose and reform the family courts. However,@hansummers recent reporting on shocking cases, and @SheraFamily CSA paper are stark reminders that we have a long way to go to end this ‘state sanctioned abuse’.
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NEW: The case against @DrProudman for professional misconduct has been dismissed.
Good luck to @DrProudman today. Arguments due to resume soon as to whether Proudman’s tweets are protected by article 10, which protects freedom of expression, and the case should consequently be dismissed. Yesterday's report via @Haroon_Siddique
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The safety of women and children is being put at risk through the process by which location orders are served by the courts on those seeking sanctuary and the secret addresses are inadvertently disclosed to alleged or known abusers. My report:
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A senior high court judge will hear the appeal of a mother accused of alienating her children and examine issues relating to the regulation of experts who give evidence in the family courts, particularly where 'parental alienation' is a feature.
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Coronavirus is exacerbating the hidden scandal of child marriage in the UK new data shows, as survivors back change in law @GirlsNotBrides @IKWRO @KNFMHBV @SarahChampionMP @WEP_UK @Misskeeleyhawes @Pauline_Latham @save_children #honour #EndChildMarriage.
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4/The judge also allowed an application by the mother for the boy's surname to be changed to hers, saying: "I consider it reasonable for the mother to ask that she not have imposed upon her as primary carer a child who uses on a daily basis the name of someone who raped her.”.
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I was blocked from attending a family court hearing yesterday because - apparently - a judge did not know journalists are permitted to attend to observe proceedings. @louisetickle who has worked hard for greater transparency has written a thread on what happened here 👇🧵.
Sometimes I wonder if the family justice system will EVER grasp that living in a free society means bothering to educate itself about the limited rights journalists *do* have to receive and impart information. a rant:.
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NEW: Moves to appeal after court upholds ban on naming judges who presided over Sara Sharif hearings: Story on legal bid from @louisetickle and I supported by our barrister @ChrismdBarnes acting pro bono.
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And let's not forget that those asked to 'diagnose' PA have a vested financial interest to find alienation has taken place because in some cases they could be paid to 'treat' it or direct work to their colleagues and associates who provide therapy.
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I hear this all the time. I've been working on this for long enough now to know that these cases are not outliers. It seems mothers who support their child's disclosures of CSA are punished the most. ie. least contact.
@hansummers That has been happening for years. Women are often advised in the family courts not to allege DV or child sex abuse because it is not looked on favourably in the courts.
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NEW: Unregulated experts could be banned from the family courts under newly proposed rules for cases involving children. However, some organisations have told @TBIJ that the proposal, which is out for public consultation, does not go far enough. 👇
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Despite the volume and nature of the personal attacks @DrProudman has endured for making her voice heard and refusing to conform- including from members of her own profession -she remains resolute. This spirit drives her brilliant advocacy of women's rights. Keep going!.
As a female barrister advocating on behalf of victims of male violence, I've faced misogyny & threats from barristers. From being called a c*** to attempts to disbar me, they've thrown dozens of complaints my way. I won't be silenced. I am speaking up to advocate for change 🪡
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From what I have witnessed, in long protracted proceedings with disputed allegations, a court appointed expert's psychological report can often [but of course not always] swing the direction of a case and contribute to evidence that a parent should lose custody of their children.
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The mother successfully appealed the order which has been set aside and has submitted to the court that Cafcass is an “actively harmful organisation” that is not “fit for purpose”. She has since applied to strip White of his parental responsibility.
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"The child was taken from the building by the father, screaming: 'The judge is wrong, the judge is wrong'.” Families are torn apart by unregulated experts, writes Brenda Power
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All being well I have a story out tomorrow on family courts that I've been waiting patiently to publish for a while. It's the first case I've covered under the reporting pilot which, from a process point of view, has actually been really positive, if not without its challenges!.
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NEW: One in three pregnant women in prison in England and Wales are being held on remand awaiting trial, response to an FOI reveals. My report for @ObserverUK with @nic__murray. 1/2
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The family court should not ordinarily permit the instruction of 'experts in alienation' the @UK_ACP has advised a senior judge who is overseeing an appeal that will address the wider issues of court-appointed experts and their regulatory status. My report
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This judgment is significant because it puts into play case law made out by the President of the Family Division in Re C which stipulated that determining allegations of parental alienation should be a finding of fact to be determined by the court.
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The appeal brought by @louisetickle and I relating to the decision to anonymise judges in the historic Sara Sharif family proceedings is underway before Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Warby. The hearing is being live streamed here:
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Lovely message, thank you.
@hansummers greetings to Esme from 5 commanding officers and a hazmat officer from the Amsterdam fire dept in the Netherlands, 2 of them being women. Dear girl, follow your heart, wherever it may lead you!
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NEW: 'If [the children's guardian] had believed me and my son the court could have made findings [of rape] earlier': In a rare interview a mother tells me of her family court ordeal. My report for @ObserverUK - our @TBIJ publishing partner.
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3/ Giving judgment, Judge Baker said: “The overall picture, which now includes the father’s reflections … leads me to conclude the father’s continued involvement in the child’s life would be, for the foreseeable future, continued court-sanctioned abuse of the mother.".
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So this is all getting a bit surreal. .
A mom took to the internet to ask for proof to her 4-year-old daughter that she too could be a firefighter, and female firefighters around the world showed viral support.
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'A gay woman who said she was raped by a man was accused of 'engaging with the defendant' before the attack. Charges against a suspect, who was caught on CCTV, were dropped'
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EXCL: The CCRC [@ccrcupdate] is investigating a number of murder cases to see if the convictions are unsafe because #coercivecontrol wasn't explored as a possible defence during trial. It follows the landmark Sally Challen appeal in 2019. So far five cases are being examined. .
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Some interesting comments in here from a senior female barrister on the 'clear advantages' her male peers have because they are able to socialise with judges at the Garrick Club. 1/2.
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The president of the Family Division gave evidence to the HoC justice select committee earlier this week and was asked about the concept of parental alienation as well as the family court's use of unregulated psychologists as expert witnesses. Here are some highlights. 🧵👇.
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According to @UK_ACP it is problematic to instruct PA experts because they are likely to display a confirmatory bias and view a case through an unhelpfully narrow lens, making them unsuitable for conducting an open-minded assessment of a family.
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Crucially, in this case, a previous judge had made findings of coercive and controlling behaviour on the part of the father but this very significant finding was not considered by Melanie Gill before she found the mother had 'alienated' the children, the court heard.
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8/ The wider case raises concerning questions about the issue of unregulated court appointed experts and their influence. In court documents the Met claimed Woodall "played large role in the police being unable to even have a preliminary talk with the children.”.
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'A victim of rape said she was quoted £7,500 for a transcript from a 10-day crown court trial that resulted in the man who attacked and drugged her being jailed for 15 years.' | MPs urge government to scrap fees for court transcripts:
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My report on the long-awaited judgment from the president of the family division which discusses the use of court-appointed psychological experts and their regulation with a focus on parental alienation cases. His verdict: Tighter regulation is up to MPs.
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White was granted contact after a recommendation to the court from @MyCafcass. The mother said: "It was like. despite the court’s findings, Cafcass doesn’t believe you. it doesn’t matter that he’s a convicted rapist and he raped you – he can spend time with your child.".
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