Tighter regulation of psychologists in family law cases up to MPs, says senior judge

Landmark judgment by family court president Sir Andrew McFarlane confirms anyone can use the title ‘psychologist’.

England’s most senior family court judge has advised there is a “need for rigour” and “clarity” when instructing psychologists to give expert evidence – but has stopped short of saying the family courts should never appoint those who are “unregulated”.

Instead Sir Andrew McFarlane claims it is a matter for the psychological profession, and ultimately parliament, whether a “tighter regime should be imposed” on what he has described as a “confusing system”.