If a parent fears that their child will be taken abroad without his or her consent, then they should consider the following:
- Alert the local police station, the parent will be asked to make a detailed statement.
- Court Orders. Where there is risk of abduction, a parent can apply for:
A prohibited steps order from the courts to prevent the removal of the child from the UK. A breach of this order would be contempt of court.
A specific issue order could settle a dispute about whether a child is allowed to leave the UK.
A residence order to determine with whom the child should live.
Or a parent could apply to the High Court to make the child a ward of court, this will immediately freeze the situation and prevent the child being taken abroad, and any attempt to take the child abroad will be contempt of court.
- Contact the United Kingdom Identity and Passport Service and ask them to surrender a passport or ask them not to grant a passport to the child. They will usually need to see a court order (as mentioned above), but they are not necessary in the case of unmarried mothers wishing to lodge an objection.
- Contact Reunite: The International Child Abduction Centre. They can provide parents with a Child Abduction Prevention Pack.
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