This 30 minute interview is a must for anyone involved in private family law cases, including parents, older children, lawyers, CAFCASS, the judiciary and social services.
Terry White has extensive experience of analysing reports written with the intention to deceive by corrupt regimes all over the world, for example those prepared by Russian oligarchs or African despots.  The Ministry of Justice Report 'Assessing the Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children's Cases' bears all the hallmarks of these reports.  Terry has applied for Judicial Review to challenge the process followed by the MoJ.  The review, if allowed, will be heard in about a year's time.
Terry dissects the report to show how it fails to be a trustworthy or reliable description of the experiences of those in the family court and why it is not a scientifically based, statistically sound analysis deserving of respect or credibility.  
This is another missed opportunity for children

Terry White Dismantles the Ministry of Justice, June 2020, Report

Melissa Isaak is an attorney from Alabama who specialises in representing men in the family court.  She has a wonderfully direct approach to false allegations and, unlike lawyers in the UK, is willing to speak openly and frankly about her experience, her views and the advice she gives her clients.  Duane Robert, who does a regular podcast, 'Dad Surviving Divorce' (https://www.youtube.com/c/DadSurvivingDivorce/featured) has kindly allowed us to share his interview with Melissa.  We have edited it down to 8 minutes of pure gold - completely relevant to British parents of either sex who may be facing false allegations.  We suggest listening to Melissa's comments several times so that you can note and learn from all the advice she is giving.  You can see Duane's full interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHpQ4XH_Dzc&t=2555s

False Allegations in the Family Court:  What should you do?

Theodore Dalrymple was, until his retirement in 2005, a prison doctor and a psychiatrist.  He is a prolific writer and has published several books including 'Life at the Bottom', 'Our Culture, What's Left of It', 'Spoilt Rotten:  The Toxic Cult of Sentimentality' and most recently 'Midnight Maxims'.  He has written for The Times, The British Medical Journal, The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, The Observer and many other publications.
Much of Dalrymple's writing and many of his opinions are based on his experience of working with criminals and the mentally ill.
In this interview (audio because of internet problems), Theodore describes his experiences and what he has learnt from them.

Theodore Dalrymple:  Life at the Bottom

Jill Canvin describes the destructive effect of false allegations made by one parent against another, especially if the allegations are sexual.  She gives advice about the need to gather detailed records of all that happens in the hope of demonstrating that the allegations are untrue.

False Allegations in the Family Court

Jill Canvin, with many years experience as a lawyer, explains how controlling or coercive behaviour are defined by the courts.  Understanding what evidence the court needs to hear will help you prove your case.  Use the OnRecord mobile app to gather the key evidence you need.

Domestic Abuse: What is Controlling or Coercive Behaviour?

We have been thinking about why the problems with CAFCASS have not gone away and now seem to be attracting discussion again.  The problems may be impossible to sort out.   There is a lack of honesty about why reforms have been made, mainly to save money but presented as improvements for children.  The result has been to create an impossible environment for good decision making.  Families in the court system need to be able to speak about their experience if there is to be any change for the better.  Meanwhile, gather your evidence because it's your only way of hoping to be heard.
The link to the Norgrove Report is:  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217343/family-justice-review-final-report.pdf#page119
The link to the President's View is: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/JCO/Documents/FJC/Publications/VIEW+President+Expert(3).pdf

The Family Court Con Trick

In 2018 Ofsted (https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/09-b-Appendix-1-Cafcass_national_inspection_report_2018.pdf) reported CAFCASS to be outstanding.  Their report is one that any organisation would die for - the praise is amazing.
And yet in June 2020, the Ministry of Justice review found CAFCASS to have severe and widespread problems, particularly related to contact with domestic abusers.
We have been thinking about how to understand this extraordinary contrast of views and what are the underlying causes of CAFCASS' failings.  

Fundamentally the problem is that the task set for CAFCASS (and the private law role of the family court in general) is impossible due to the lack of resources.  The family court cannot provide the time, expertise or money needed to do the job.  CAFCASS can maybe do a marvellous job but only within their defined boundaries while still failing families and children.  

More investment is not going to happen.  The cases are not deemed serious enough to reach the threshold for public law attention (i.e. care proceedings, where budget cuts have reduced quality as well, although disguised as improvements) and what can be seen as 'quarrels between parents' are not of sufficient public concern as to get the investment needed to do the job properly.  Parents can fight each other into the ground with allegations and counter allegations but the court does not have and will not be given enough resources to do the proper risk assessments or findings of facts that would allow better judgements.  Having to try to achieve the impossible leads to a dysfunctional professional approach in many cases.  The solution probably does not lie in the court arena.

CAFCASS: The Ofsted fake report

ONRECORD helps you gather and prepare your evidence in a secure and simple mobile app.  Log each incident as it occurs, create a timeline of events, generate reports to support your case and share your evidence with supportive professionals if you choose to.  ONRECORD was founded by Dr George Hibbert and Jill Canvin LLB, who are experienced legal and medical professionals who have spent many years helping clients gather and prepare evidence.
 Make contact with us via admin@myonrecord.com

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