Sara Sharif -what we now know from the Safeguarding Review

by Chris Barnes | Nov 13, 2025 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Notorious

Chris Barnes represented the journalists, Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers, in proceedings before the High Court and Court of Appeal arising from applications for the disclosure of papers from the family proceedings concerning Sara and her family. On 13 November 2025,...

Court lifts grandmother’s anonymity at her request

by reporting watch team | Nov 11, 2025 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch, Notorious

This court judgment – [2025] EWFC 374 – has been published with two names: one is Re A (A Child) (Mother killed by Father) and the other: Linda Westcarr v Gogoa Lois Tape (1) A (2) The Paternal Grandmother (3)The Paternal Grandfather (4) and The London Borough of...

Family Procedure Rule Committee Open Meeting

by reporting watch team | Nov 9, 2025 | Consultations, FCReportingWatch

One of our trustees, Julie Doughty, attended the Annual Open Meeting of the Family Procedure Rule Committee held online on 3 November. Applicants who ask to attend are invited to send in a question that may be answered at the meeting. Our question was about the ban on...

Boy left in Ghana – rehearing

by Julie Doughty | Nov 6, 2025 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

There was a lot of media coverage back in February of this unusual story of a British teenage boy who’d taken his parents to court to try to get back home to London from Ghana. His parents had tricked him into visiting Ghana in early 2024 where they’d left him,...

Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup: October 2025

by reporting watch team | Nov 5, 2025 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Transparency News

Welcome to the Roundup, where we correct, clarify and comment on media reports of family law, explain and comment on published family court judgments, and highlight other transparency news.  MEDIA COVERAGE OF FAMILY LAW, TRANSPARENCY etc The BBC reported that...

Repealing ‘the presumption” – an explainer

by reporting watch team | Oct 28, 2025 | Comment, FCReportingWatch, Trends

Section 1(2A) of the Children Act 1989, as amended in 2014, states that, with regard to applications for child arrangements orders under Section 8: A court … is as respects each parent … to presume, unless the contrary is shown, that involvement of that parent in the...