Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions
Make non-payment of child maintenance a criminal offence
Closed
177 signatures
What the petition asks
We want the Government to make non-payment of child maintenance a criminal offence, so that parents who withhold child maintenance when they have the means and capacity to pay can be pursued through the criminal justice system. We believe this would help prevent non-payment.
Withholding child maintenance from the parent who ensures all the child/children's needs are met should be made a criminal offence akin to child neglect /abuse. Pursuing non-payment of child maintenance through the Child Maintenance Service and courts can take months of even years for payment to be enforced. We believe that this is not acceptable, and that making non-payment of child maintenance a criminal offence could help prevent non-payment.
Timeline
| 9 Oct 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 9 Apr 2024 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
177
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Opened
9 Oct 2023
Closed
9 Apr 2024
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.