A family who fought in court to shield a young girl from her paedophile father have raised concerns about government legislation designed to assist others facing a similar situation.
The Victims and Courts Bill features an amendment that would strip parental responsibility from convicted paedophiles, but only if they have perpetrated abuse against their own children. In a 2023 report by the BBC, a mother detailed how she had to spend over £30,000 safeguarding her young daughter from her ex-husband, who had been convicted of severe child sex offenses but still retained parental rights over their child.
Following a series of hearings in Cardiff Family Court, where a woman referred to as “Bethan” fought to protect her daughter from her ex-husband, who had been convicted of serious child sex crimes but still possessed parental responsibilities. This meant he could influence decisions concerning the child’s education, health, and residence. Despite being prohibited from interacting with other children, he could potentially have contact with his daughter in the future, although he was currently restricted from doing so.
Harriet Harman, a former MP now serving in the Lords, proposed an amendment to rectify what she labeled as a “glaring anomaly” in the law. This amendment aimed to automatically revoke parental responsibility after a parent received a criminal conviction for severe child sex crimes, alleviating the need for families like Bethan’s to navigate the Family Court system. In April 2024, Conservative Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk voiced support for this change, prioritizing the protection of children’s best interests.
Despite initial optimism, the government’s decision to call for a July election delayed the implementation of the law. In the most recent King’s Speech in 2024, the Labour government pledged to enact the change, focusing on restricting parental responsibilities for child sex offenders. However, the newly published draft law specified that the removal of parental responsibility would only pertain to those who committed serious sexual offenses against a child under their care, leaving families like Bethan’s unaffected. While the proposed legislation indicates that parental responsibility restrictions should apply only to those sentenced to at least four years in prison, the grandparents advocate for a broader application of the law. The Victims Minister reassured that the government is committed to protecting children and supporting victims, implementing changes to automatically suspend parental responsibilities for offenders who sexually abuse their own child and receive a prison sentence of four years or more
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