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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Louise Tickle

I’ve fought for years to report what really goes on in family courts. At last, journalists can

outside view of the central family court building in High Holborn, central London
A scheme to allow journalists to attend family court hearings has been extended to 16 more court centres, including the central family court in London. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Every day, the emails arrive. Over the nine years I’ve reported on family courts, desperate missives from families embroiled in court proceedings have landed in my inbox telling me that the judge is biased, the “guardian” representing their child is corrupt, social workers have lied, pulverising cross-examinations by barristers have traumatised them, poor advice from solicitors has damaged their case, and the family justice system’s delays and decisions have destroyed their family and harmed their child.

I must have read thousands. And some of them are true.

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