Make parental alienation a criminal offence
Make parental alienation a criminal offence
Recent signers:
Jack Waldron and 19 others have signed recently.
The Issue
My son is currently embroiled in a painful battle to gain access to his son. There is absolutely no valid reason for him to be denied this fundamental right. I know of many men, just like my son, who are unjustly prevented from seeing their children. Some have spent upwards of £20,000 in legal fees just to get a chance to be part of their children's lives. It is time we stop parents from using their children as weapons in personal disputes.
Thousands of parents across the UK are facing financial and emotional drain trying to access the courts to maintain a relationship with their children. Parental alienation, where one parent unjustly prevents the other parent from seeing their child without good reason, should be recognised as a form of child abuse and made a criminal offence. Such behaviour not only harms the child's relationship with their estranged parent but also inflicts psychological damage on the child who becomes a pawn in a parental power struggle.
Moreover, the financial burden of legal proceedings to gain access is crippling for many parents. Legal aid is essential in ensuring that every parent has a fair opportunity to fight for their rights without being financially crippled. Legal aid should be readily available for access cases so that every parent has a fighting chance.
According to a report by the charity Families Need Fathers, an estimated 3 million children in the UK are affected by parental separation. Many involved fathers face barriers that prevent them from playing an active role in their children's lives, and legal costs are often cited as the biggest hurdle.
We urge the UK government to make it a criminal offence for a parent to unjustly withhold access to their child from the other parent. Additionally, implement reforms to provide legal aid to parents in access cases. This change can protect children from unnecessary emotional trauma and ensure they maintain healthy relationships with both parents. Please sign this petition to end this injustice and help affected families across the UK.
Thousands of parents across the UK are facing financial and emotional drain trying to access the courts to maintain a relationship with their children. Parental alienation, where one parent unjustly prevents the other parent from seeing their child without good reason, should be recognised as a form of child abuse and made a criminal offence. Such behaviour not only harms the child's relationship with their estranged parent but also inflicts psychological damage on the child who becomes a pawn in a parental power struggle.
Moreover, the financial burden of legal proceedings to gain access is crippling for many parents. Legal aid is essential in ensuring that every parent has a fair opportunity to fight for their rights without being financially crippled. Legal aid should be readily available for access cases so that every parent has a fighting chance.
According to a report by the charity Families Need Fathers, an estimated 3 million children in the UK are affected by parental separation. Many involved fathers face barriers that prevent them from playing an active role in their children's lives, and legal costs are often cited as the biggest hurdle.
We urge the UK government to make it a criminal offence for a parent to unjustly withhold access to their child from the other parent. Additionally, implement reforms to provide legal aid to parents in access cases. This change can protect children from unnecessary emotional trauma and ensure they maintain healthy relationships with both parents. Please sign this petition to end this injustice and help affected families across the UK.
Marie CallawayPetition Starter
111
Recent signers:
Jack Waldron and 19 others have signed recently.
The Issue
My son is currently embroiled in a painful battle to gain access to his son. There is absolutely no valid reason for him to be denied this fundamental right. I know of many men, just like my son, who are unjustly prevented from seeing their children. Some have spent upwards of £20,000 in legal fees just to get a chance to be part of their children's lives. It is time we stop parents from using their children as weapons in personal disputes.
Thousands of parents across the UK are facing financial and emotional drain trying to access the courts to maintain a relationship with their children. Parental alienation, where one parent unjustly prevents the other parent from seeing their child without good reason, should be recognised as a form of child abuse and made a criminal offence. Such behaviour not only harms the child's relationship with their estranged parent but also inflicts psychological damage on the child who becomes a pawn in a parental power struggle.
Moreover, the financial burden of legal proceedings to gain access is crippling for many parents. Legal aid is essential in ensuring that every parent has a fair opportunity to fight for their rights without being financially crippled. Legal aid should be readily available for access cases so that every parent has a fighting chance.
According to a report by the charity Families Need Fathers, an estimated 3 million children in the UK are affected by parental separation. Many involved fathers face barriers that prevent them from playing an active role in their children's lives, and legal costs are often cited as the biggest hurdle.
We urge the UK government to make it a criminal offence for a parent to unjustly withhold access to their child from the other parent. Additionally, implement reforms to provide legal aid to parents in access cases. This change can protect children from unnecessary emotional trauma and ensure they maintain healthy relationships with both parents. Please sign this petition to end this injustice and help affected families across the UK.
Thousands of parents across the UK are facing financial and emotional drain trying to access the courts to maintain a relationship with their children. Parental alienation, where one parent unjustly prevents the other parent from seeing their child without good reason, should be recognised as a form of child abuse and made a criminal offence. Such behaviour not only harms the child's relationship with their estranged parent but also inflicts psychological damage on the child who becomes a pawn in a parental power struggle.
Moreover, the financial burden of legal proceedings to gain access is crippling for many parents. Legal aid is essential in ensuring that every parent has a fair opportunity to fight for their rights without being financially crippled. Legal aid should be readily available for access cases so that every parent has a fighting chance.
According to a report by the charity Families Need Fathers, an estimated 3 million children in the UK are affected by parental separation. Many involved fathers face barriers that prevent them from playing an active role in their children's lives, and legal costs are often cited as the biggest hurdle.
We urge the UK government to make it a criminal offence for a parent to unjustly withhold access to their child from the other parent. Additionally, implement reforms to provide legal aid to parents in access cases. This change can protect children from unnecessary emotional trauma and ensure they maintain healthy relationships with both parents. Please sign this petition to end this injustice and help affected families across the UK.
Marie CallawayPetition Starter
111 people signed this week
111
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Petition created on 12 April 2026