Mandatory police recording of where child abduction/coercion began online

Open for signatures 49 signatures

What the petition asks

We believe recording this information would:
- improve national understanding of online enabled risks
- support evidence based safeguarding policies
- help police identify patterns and intervene earlier
- strengthen child protection
Data is not routinely collected on if abductions begin online

Police forces report rising levels of online grooming, yet there is no national system to track when digital communication leads to a child being persuaded, coerced, or moved.
We believe recording this information would:
- improve national understanding of online enabled risks
- support evidence based safeguarding policies
- help police identify patterns and intervene earlier
- strengthen child protection across the UK
We want Government to introduce a statutory duty for police forces to record online involvement in abduction cases.

Timeline

3 Jun 2026

Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 49

Status Open for signatures

Department Ministry of Justice

Opened 3 Jun 2026

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