Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Make it easier to end parental responsibility of abusive or neglectful parents
Closed
118 signatures
What the petition asks
Parents automatically get 'parental responsibility' if their name is on the birth certificate, meaning they are responsible for their child's well-being. The Government should make it easier for to be removed if a parent has not acted in their child's best interests.
The possession of 'parental responsibility' is often used more for parents having a "right to see their child" than its intended purpose: a parent's responsibility to protect the child.
Children under the age of one are the most likely age group to be killed by another person, and child deaths are most commonly caused by the child’s parent, but there are few cases of parental responsibility have been taken away.
Making it easier to remove parental responsibility from parents who do not act in the best interests of their children could help protect children who may otherwise be at risk.
Children under the age of one are the most likely age group to be killed by another person, and child deaths are most commonly caused by the child’s parent, but there are few cases of parental responsibility have been taken away.
Making it easier to remove parental responsibility from parents who do not act in the best interests of their children could help protect children who may otherwise be at risk.
Timeline
| 1 Dec 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 1 Jun 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
118
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
1 Dec 2020
Closed
1 Jun 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.