PETITIONRejectedPetition · petition.parliament.uk

Expand UK child cruelty laws to include emotional and psychological abuse

Current UK child cruelty laws do not adequately protect children from emotional and psychological abuse. The law should be updated to recognise and prosecute non-physical forms of abuse that cause lasting harm.

Last fetched 18 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk

Signatures

signatures

Government response threshold (10,000) · 16/10,000

Debate threshold (100,000) · 16/100,000

Petition progress2 events · Oct – Nov 2025

14 NOV 2025
Petition rejected
already-happening
Emotional and psychological harm was added in 2014 which you can find more information about below: Summary in press release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/damian-green-child-cruelty-law-to-be-updated#:~:text=Children%20will%20be%20better%20protected,are%20protected%20by%20the%20law. Factsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80beb9e5274a2e8ab51eaf/Fact_sheet_-_Updating_the_law_on_child_cruelty_-_Act.pdf Set out in Section 66 (3) of the Serious Crime Act 2015 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/9/part/5
09 OCT 2025
Petition created

Background

Update UK child cruelty laws to include emotional and psychological abuse. Currently, victims are left unprotected unless physical harm can be proven. The law must recognise emotional abuse as equally serious, ensuring justice for survivors of non-physical cruelty. The government should provide clear training and guidance for police, CPS, and social workers so every child is protected. No child should grow up believing their pain doesn’t matter simply because it can’t be seen.