Child Abduction Peaks in Summer: What to Look Out For

Extensive studies and statistics highlight that cases of child abduction increase during the summer.

The psychological impact on children can be devastating and long-lasting – and it is vital to obtain the permission of everyone with parental responsibility for a child before taking them abroad.

Every year there are around 1,000 cases of British children under the age of sixteen being taken abroad by one parent without the other parent’s permission. This is a criminal offence if the offending parent has not obtained a Court’s permission.

Many cases see children whisked away to countries that are not a signatory of the Hague Convention on International child abduction, an international agreement made in 1980.

Non-signatories of the Hague Convention extend to over sixty countries where there are no international systems to help parents find their children. They include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudia Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.

Tell-tale signs

• Behavioural changes/deteriorating relationship between parents
• Leaving a job
• Selling a house
• Seeking a copy of a child’s birth certificate
• Trying to obtain a child’s passport
• Increased contact with family or friends overseas
• Wanting to take a child away without the other parent

Preventative steps

• Apply to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO) preventing either parent from taking their children to events/trips without the express permission of the other parent
• Apply for a Child Arrangements Order which clearly sets out the ‘custody rights’ each parent should be exercising. In cases where an abduction occurs, it demonstrates an infringement of custody rights
• Ensure that parental contact is supervised or, in extreme cases, stopped altogether
• Keep passports safe – an option is for a solicitor to hold them
• Ask the Passport Agency  to block the other parent from applying for a new passport
• In term time, ensure the school know exactly who is allowed to collect your child from school

If you receive a threat of child abduction or if your child has been abducted:

• Contact the police immediately. They can issue alerts to airports/ferry terminals and liaise with Interpol who may be able to work with police forces abroad to help find your child

• Give the police recent photos of your child and the other parent, together with details of the airport or destination you think they may be heading
• Contact Reunite, a UK charity specialising in parental child abduction which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline
• Seek legal advice immediately

Guiding you through this complex process

Helpful websites include International parental child abduction – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Reunite | International Child Abduction Centre | Child Abduction Charity.

Read more articles by Kate Banerjee.

Read more articles by Jones Myers Family Law Solicitors.

About Kate Banerjee

A widely recognised leader in Children Law, Kate Banerjee heads Jones Myers nationally and internationally renowned Children’s Department. She is highly experienced in cases which include contact and residence disputes and child protection law.

Kate also has extensive expertise in international child abduction cases and is a Member of the International Child Abduction and Custody Unit. She is also a Member of the Child Care Panel representing parents, guardians, Local Authorities, and children.