What is the law relating to child abduction?

It is a criminal offence under the Child Abduction Act 1984 for a person connected with a child under the age of 16 to take or send that child out of the UK without the appropriate consent.

A person is connected with a child if they are a parent of the child, a guardian of the child, a special guardian of the child, anyone who has a residence order in force with respect to the child, or anyone who has the child living with them.

The appropriate consent would be the consent of the mother, the father (if he has parental responsibility), the guardian, the special guardian, anyone with a residence order, anyone who has the child living with them or permission from the court.

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