Petition · Home Office

Give police emergency powers to return children withheld by a parent

Open for signatures 21 signatures

What the petition asks

We call on the Government to amend the law to grant police immediate emergency powers to recover a child when a parent withholds them in breach of an active Court Order or shared care agreement.
Currently, when a parent breaks a family court order and refuses to return a child, the police often refuse to intervene, calling it a "civil matter". Parents are forced to wait months for new court hearings while their children are alienated and legal orders are ignored with impunity. The law has a dangerous gap. We need emergency police enforcement powers to protect children and uphold court decisions immediately, instead of allowing parents to break the law while waiting for future court.

Timeline

30 Jul 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Open for signatures
Department Home Office
Opened 30 Jul 2026

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 31 Jul 2026.