Opinion: Why Jessica Taylor’s Comments Were Deeply Irresponsible – Even If I Have No Love for Cafcass

By Michael Thompson, Founder, Falsely Accused Network

Let me be clear from the start: I am no apologist for Cafcass. In my work supporting men falsely accused of domestic abuse, I’ve seen firsthand how often Cafcass fails to act fairly, how practitioners can appear biased, and how the organisation often seems more focused on ticking boxes than safeguarding justice. But even with that said, I cannot defend what Dr Jess Taylor said during the launch of Charlotte Proudman’s book He Said, She Said.

Dr Taylor stated—albeit broadly and supposedly hypothetically—that “on the balance of probabilities there must be social workers and Cafcass practitioners who go home and abuse their kids.” This was a sweeping, inflammatory remark delivered in a public forum, aimed at professionals without any evidence whatsoever. Let’s not sugar-coat it: this wasn’t courageous or radical. It was lazy, reckless, and wildly unprofessional.

Imagine if a male professional stood up at a public event and said, “On the balance of probabilities, some female psychologists must be abusing their children.” There would rightly be outrage. So why is it acceptable when Dr Taylor aims it at social workers and Cafcass staff?

Statements like hers don’t advance debate—they poison it. They’re not about holding institutions accountable through facts and evidence, they’re about throwing accusations into the air and walking away. Yes, professionals in every sector can do wrong. Nobody is bias-free. But there’s a difference between highlighting systemic issues and smearing an entire profession without a shred of evidence.

And then there’s the bizarre expectation from Dr Taylor that she should somehow be immune from consequences or criticism. She claims Cafcass’s letter was “threatening.” It wasn’t. It was clumsy and overreaching, sure—Cafcass often is—but it was also a predictable response from a national body accused of harbouring child abusers.

I have spent years challenging the failures of Cafcass. I know how damaging their recommendations can be when based on faulty assumptions or one-sided narratives. I’ve spoken to fathers who’ve been erased from their children’s lives based on flimsy safeguarding concerns. But our fight for justice must be principled. It must be based on evidence, not innuendo.

Charlotte Proudman called Cafcass’s letter an attempt to “silence a woman speaking out on behalf of survivors.” But survivors don’t need defenders who undermine credibility by making baseless claims. They need advocates who speak with integrity, with facts, and with a strategy for reform.

If Dr Taylor truly believes the family court system is broken, she should say so—loudly, clearly, and backed by data. But she should leave the conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric behind. Because all it does is give Cafcass and others the excuse to play the victim, divert the conversation, and continue on without facing real scrutiny.

We must be better than this. We must be credible if we’re going to be heard. And that starts with thinking before we speak.

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Michael Thompson is the founder of the Falsely Accused Network, supporting individuals across England and Wales who have been wrongfully accused of domestic abuse.