Expand UK child cruelty laws to include emotional and psychological abuse

Rejected 16 signatures

What the petition asks

Current UK child cruelty laws do not adequately protect children from emotional and psychological abuse. The law should be updated to recognise and prosecute non-physical forms of abuse that cause lasting harm.

Update UK child cruelty laws to include emotional and psychological abuse. Currently, victims are left unprotected unless physical harm can be proven. The law must recognise emotional abuse as equally serious, ensuring justice for survivors of non-physical cruelty. The government should provide clear training and guidance for police, CPS, and social workers so every child is protected. No child should grow up believing their pain doesn’t matter simply because it can’t be seen.

Why it was rejected

The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.

Emotional and psychological harm was added in 2014 which you can find more information about below:

Summary in press release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/damian-green-child-cruelty-law-to-be-updated#:~:text=Children%20will%20be%20better%20protected,are%20protected%20by%20the%20law.

Factsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80beb9e5274a2e8ab51eaf/Fact_sheet_-_Updating_the_law_on_child_cruelty_-_Act.pdf

Set out in Section 66 (3) of the Serious Crime Act 2015 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/9/part/5

Timeline

9 Oct 2025	Petition opened for signatures
14 Nov 2025	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 16

Status Rejected

Rejected 14 Nov 2025

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