Public inquiry into CAFCASS and domestic abuse

[Mandeep09]

Many parents going through family court proceedings after being in a domestic abuse situation find themselves and their children at further risk. The Government agreed to a public inquiry but it doesn’t go far enough to include CAFCASS, who are meant to act on behalf of the children. Often unsupervised contact is granted or the abuse continues. This has to change.

Please sign and share this petition.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/269989?sfns=mo

“Perpetrator seriously assaulted victim, knocking teeth out in front of 7 month old baby. Perpetrator then abducted baby and went on the run. CAFCASS and Judge say he is if no risk and order unsupervised contact immediately.”

Does this sound like family court is protecting children or the survivors of domestic abuse?

#thecourtsaid #endthisinjustice

Signed..,

I’ll sign it. I was just remembering this morning how utterly shit they were and it’s been years since I had to deal with them.

Thank you, Mandeep for bringing this to my attention. I have signed and will send the link to everyone I know who would be eligible to sign. I responded to the inquiry with my own experience but had not realised it would not include CAFCASS (how is it even possible to have an inquiry into the family courts without looking at CAFCASS?!).

Is it possible to put this on more than one board so as to reach the largest amount of mumsnetters possible? I know a lot of people on the Relationships Board have been in abusive relationships and have had to deal with the family courts.

I hope you're ok Mandeep and that you and your children are safe x

This is so badly needed.
I was well protected as an adult victim of DV (proven - police and medical notes) but my children.arent afforded the same protection.

8 year old boy makes a disclosure to his head teacher that dad did something that seriously endangered his life.

Mum brings court case asking for safety of children to be reviewed.

Cafcass don't ask son about the incident because they are "not an investigating body". (Cafcass officers words).

Dad assured cafcass it didn't happen and cafcass believe him.(despite dad having previously admitted in court that.it did happen).

Cafcass recommend increased contact.with dad. 8 year old boy has.to go back to dad and once again ends up with dad endangering his life.

What the fuck cafcass. Why didn't you protect my boy? he doesn't understand why he was made to go back to his daddy after what happened the first time. Yes he told you he loved his daddy, but victims of abuse often do love their abuser

Sending love to you Mandeep. Since ending up in the family court system I have felt like I have fallen down a rabbit hole that doesn't make any sense.

Signed

Signed and shared

I have no respect for Cafcass. In my experience they ignore significant concerns. Utterly incompetent.
Signed and shared.

It's awful how many children have been let down by cafcass.

It is horrific and when you hear of the consequences it is heartbreaking.

They have so much power and sometimes choose to misuse that.

It is shocking and concerns are ignored or deemed as “historic” or “intractable hostility.”

Thank you everyone for signing and sharing. I’ve put the message on some of the other boards such as relationships. So sad to hear of the people that have been affected. No one should have to go through it. Too many lives destroyed and the court system is just another way of continuing the abuse.

There is a national campaign at the moment #thecourtsaid to highlight what happens with CAFCASS and domestic abuse situations in family court. It is backed by celebrities, Women’s Aid and other professionals. Would be great if you could attend and/or spread the word. Discounted travel is available but needs to be booked by the 5 October.

Saturday 26th October, 2019 at 12:00 in Parliament Square
Follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

www.facebook.com/thecourtsaid/

Going to try and make it Mandeep!

My dad is a judge in the family court and has been horrified countless times by the power and idiocy of cafcass, as have many of his colleagues. It is very hard for judges to challenge cafcass "advice" even when they suspect it is very flawed.

And he also agrees the courts are flawed too and many judges bring in their own prejudice and even those that don't have their hands tied by a legislative context that puts such an emphasis on contact at all costs (even sometimes the lives of the children). My son could have died at the hands of his dad and no one did a thing to keep him safe. He and I felt totally on our own.

Signed last night.

To say “it’s shocking and terrifying that they gave unsupervised access of a 7 month old baby to man who knocked out someone’s teeth”doesn’t even come close to covering it.
What’s the beast going to do when they baby cries and cries.

I know babyspider.
And I think people who haven't dealt with the system are probably clueless as to how desperately broken it is.

Signed

Cafcass don't ask son about the incident because they are "not an investigating body”

They aren’t. It should have been reported to Children’s Services for investigation. Was it, and what was the outcome? That’s relevant, as it’s information Cafcass would be providing to the court as part of their initial safeguarding letter, and from which they would draw their initial advice to the court.

Signed. For all the talk of safeguarding, the current system is not working. A review is so necessary.

Signed.