Cafcass has announced a new ‘domestic abuse practice policy’. The accompanying press release sets out a broader context, including the 2020 Harm Panel report, and the subsequent ‘national improvement programme’ initiated by Cafcass in response, but it pretty obviously follows hot on the heels of high profile reporting of cases where Cafcass are said to have contributed to unsafe decisions for the victims of domestic abuse and their children (notwithstanding that improvement programme). I’m thinking in particular of the recent coverage of two cases reported in the media, each involving a mother who alleged (and proved) they had been raped by the father, an initial Cafcass Officer who was dismissive of her allegations of abuse or their impact, and who, following an appeal by the mother, was subsequently replaced by a second officer of who went on to recommended an order for no contact and the removal of Parental Responsibility (PR) from the father. In both cases the court adopted the...

The family practice group at St John's Chambers, are holding a whole day children law conference on 19 November, at We The Curious in Bristol. We've worked really hard to put the programme together and have tried to squeeze in something for everyone. The morning is going to be mainly private law, the afternoon mainly public law. We have a range of speakers dealing with an array of topics, both members of the St John's family practice group (including moi) and external speakers include Lisa Harker from the FJO and BBC Correspondent Sanchia Berg. I am told that places are filling but there are still some available, so if you are pondering how best to acquire your CPD, or interested in topics such as transparency, parental alienation and domestic abuse, or covert recordings in children cases then this is one for you. And of course we will make sure there is a good old case law update. Come for half a day or the whole day. More information and details of how to book on the SJC website...

It was the place where we all converged, at the centre of the social media map. But it all seems to be crumbling now. I flirted with mastodon a little while ago. Nobody really had the energy for it and it was dull as ditchwater, with suffocating etiquette to learn. We hoped it would get better back on twitter (as I think it then still was). It didn't. And this time it's feels like a substantial exodus away from Elon world, many galvanised by their repulsion at the part X and those who use and control it, played in the misinformation and disorder. For many lawyers it appears that the refusal to tackle misinformation and material inciting crime and disorder, means that X has become a positive threat to the rule of law. For some that means either that one must leave rather than support such a corrupting platform. For others it means they feel they need to stay to keep telling truth, correcting misinformation. This week has seen several posts from the elders of legal twitter about their...