Make it a crime for absent parents who fail to pay Child Support

Rejected 15 signatures

What the petition asks

As a single parent, I spend 2/3 hours per week speaking to the CMS service, trying desperately to get financial support from my ex partner who cannot see our child due to his abuse. He tells lie after lie, resulting in nothing but excuses & differing stories from each person I speak to at CMS.

In the USA, it is considered a serious Crime to evade Child Support for a child you have Parental Responsibilty for. Here in the UK, both the CSA & CMS services have largely failed, causing poverty for millions of families. I petition we follow the USA's example in making it a Crime, punishable by Law, for a parent with Parental Responsibility to fail to pay Child Support. Acting as a deterrent, this may result in cost reductions to the government & could bring many families out of poverty.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

It is already possible for people who don't pay child maintenance to be sent to prison for non-payment. There is more information about this here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/relationships/children-and-young-people/child-maintenance/child-maintenance-2012-scheme/child-maintenance-enforcement/child-maintenance-enforcement-where-to-start/

If you could be more specific about the change that you would like to see, you could start a new petition.

Timeline

18 Jun 2016	Petition opened for signatures
23 Jun 2016	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 15

Status Rejected

Rejected 23 Jun 2016

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