***Update.. Birth mother has now been released and court has thankfully agreed she is not to have any direct or indirect contact.  (Following having to put our family through yet another S7 process forcing the children to be questioned inappropriately and more emotional stress.)  However, despite this birth mother still retains Parental Responsibility and we are waiting for a final hearing as despite her not having contact for years and not allowed any moving forwards, she has argued that the children do not remain living with me, stepmum, who has had them for five years and would rather see them in care!  The judges and social workers have specifically stated to her that her disagreeing is her right, but she will not win and is just prolonging the process and causing more stress, but this unfortunately is what is wrong with the system allowing parental abusers to maintain their parental rights over their victims!

**Following the below, birth mother is due to be released and the concept of contact with the children, including her daughter who was the victim in the abuse she was sentenced for, is actually being considered by the family courts!!  Opening up a full, intrusive Section 7 investigation on our family and all the children, and a full on fight and more stress on our family about the possibility contact could be awarded!

How is a convicted sex offender against her own children allowed to see them following her conviction??? With significant evidence of her involvement with the children being so damaging to their behaviour and emotional stability.  I hope courts see what is appropriate!!**

Our family has experienced a heart-wrenching ordeal. Our daughter suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her own mother. Despite this, Social Services and Family Court awarded contact by video and supervised contact while the investigation was ongoing.  This led to behavioural issues with the younger children at school and home and confusion for a period of two years.  This is not just our story; it's a reality for many families across the country.

Their birth mother finally after three years was convicted, sentenced and sent to prison for her abuse against her own children and finally the children are protected, yet why did the system allow their abuser contact over the investigation period despite knowing the compelling evidence and certainty she would be convicted? 

I cannot stress the question… would you hand a rape victim to a rapist?

This is essentially what the current legislation permits…

The current system allows alleged sexual abusers to maintain contact with their children during investigations, which can exacerbate trauma and potentially enable further abuse. According to Darkness to Light, a non-profit committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse, about 34% of cases involve family members as perpetrators.

Despite birth mother’s incarceration and convictions against her own children, the law permits that she still has parental responsibility…

We believe that when a parent is under investigation for such heinous acts against their own child, they should not be allowed any form of contact until the investigation concludes and they are found innocent. This change would provide an added layer of protection for vulnerable children who may be at risk.

Similarly, once convicted, those need to have parental responsibility stripped.. why is this not automatic?  If you lose a child via Social Services and it goes to adoption you lose rights but there are so many valid reasons that adoption may be the best reason. Yet… commit a sexual crime against your child and you still have rights?

If there is a single person out there that agrees tell me why…

We urge lawmakers to reevaluate these policies in order to prioritize child safety over parental rights during investigations into allegations of sexual abuse. Please sign this petition if you agree that no child should have direct or indirect contact with their alleged abuser during an ongoing investigation.