Make child abandonment by a parent a criminal offence
We call on the Government to update child protection and family law by making child abandonment by a parent a criminal offence.
Signatures
57
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 57/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 57/100,000
- 17 DEC 2025Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Nicola Marsh
Background
Abandonment is classed as neglect, but we believe absent parents face no accountability and scrutiny falls on the parent who stays. Making child abandonment by a parent a criminal offence could ensure the system is fairer and both parents are held equally responsible.