New Webinar from Cansford: Unravelling Hair Strand Tests in Family Court: Lessons from a pivotal Appeal

On April 17^th, 2024, an Appeal case was heard at the central family court. 

A mother appealed against the removal of three of her children from their maternal grandmother and uncle. The initial court decision, based on hair strand tests, had led to the removal of the children from the grandmother and uncle.  The mother appealed, arguing the judge misinterpreted the drug test results.

Giving the leading judgement of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Cobb scrutinised the reliability and limitations of hair strand drug testing. He emphasised the need for those representing families to thoroughly examine and accurately summarise hair strand test reports and to consider hair strand test results within the entire body of evidence. 

In response, Cansford labs is running campaign to help family law practitioners by explaining how to carefully examine hair strand test reports in full; specifically focusing on:

• Drawing the Judge’s attention to what the science can and cannot tell you.
• Explaining how to – where it is thought helpful or appropriate to do so – distil report contents accurately to provide a Judge with a reliable summary of the hair strand test results – not just a rehearsal or précis of the general ‘summary’ or ‘opinion’ section.
• To assist the Judge to consider the hair strand test results in the context of the whole body of the evidence made available.

For further reading ahead of the webinar, Family Law blogger, John Bolch summarises the case here:   

Please do click the register button to book your place. It promises to be an interesting and informative webinar, hosted by James Nutt, Cansford’s Laboratory Manager and Expert Witness.

See you soon.