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