By Partner, Anthony Parrish from Jones Myers Children’s Department  

Disturbingly, 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.

Extensive studies highlight that cases of child abduction – whose psychological, long-term impact on children can be devastating – increase during the summer months and school holidays which are around the corner.

In the video below, I outline the process that needs to be followed in cases of international child abduction.

This includes the process for parents whose children have been taken and the procedure for parents/parties who are accused of abducting the children.

Jones Myers Children’s Department is recognised nationally and internationally for its extensive expertise in international family law and its track record in managing cases of  child abduction.

This includes situations where children are wrongfully removed from England & Wales and unlawfully retained in a different jurisdiction, or where they are wrongfully removed from another jurisdiction to England & Wales and or unlawfully retained.

Swift action is needed in child abduction cases, and seeking skilled international family law guidance is crucial.

Our consistently high success rate spans countries both inside and outside of the 1980 Hague Convention, which is an international agreement containing a number of signatory countries following the same procedure in responding to Child Abduction.  

We are highly experienced in liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office along with officials, police forces and politicians at the highest level at home and overseas.

Jones Myers extensive expertise spans representing parents whose child has been taken to either a country outside of the jurisdiction of England and Wales or brought or retained in the jurisdiction of England and Wales without the other parent’s consent or knowledge, referred to as the applicant, and parentswho are accused of abducting the children, referred to at the respondent.

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

For queries on International Child Abduction or any aspect of children law or family law, call Jones Myers at Leeds 0113 246 0055, Harrogate 01423 276104, or York 01904 202550. Visit www.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet @helpwithdivorce

Jones Myers blog is ranked 5th in the UK’s Best 20 family law blogs and websites to follow in 2026.

Image courtesy of ArminEP, Pixabay  

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By Kate Banerjee , Head of Jones Myers Children’s Department

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

Jones Myers is recognised nationally and internationally for managing cases of parental child abduction.

This includes children being wrongfully removed from England & Wales and unlawfully retained in a different jurisdiction – or being abducted from another jurisdiction to England & Wales and illegally retained.

Our consistently high success rate spans countries both inside and outside of the Hague Convention. We are highly experienced in liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office along with officials, police forces and politicians at the highest level at home and overseas.

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

For queries on international child abduction or any aspect of family law, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit www.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

Jones Myers blog is ranked among the UK’s Best 25 family law blogs and websites to follow in 2024.

Image by David Reed at Pixabay

The post Child Abduction peaks in summer: What to look out for   appeared first on Jones Myers.

Jones Myers’ highly-experienced Children Department continues to represent the mother of a 12 year old girl from Leeds who has been missing in Egypt since 2011.

Recent developments in the long-standing case include High Court judge Mr Justice Mostyn asking Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to help locate Elsa Salama who was abducted aged just 4 by her father, Tamer Salama.

Jones Myers has represented Elsa’s mother Naomi Button in her relentless campaign to be reunited with her daughter who was snatched by her estranged husband from the resort of Sharm El Sheikh on 27 December 2011 while on holiday with her mother to visit her paternal family in Egypt.Placing Elsa in his mother’s care before also returning to England, Tamer Salama has served the equivalent of four years in jail for refusing to comply with court orders to return Elsa to her mother.

Even to this day he refuses to reveal Elsa’s whereabouts – saying only that she remains with his mother in Cairo the capital of Egypt which is not a member of the Hague Convention.

This week Mr Justice Mostyn has also asked the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to consider if Tamer Salama should face criminal proceedings for child abduction and perjury offences.

In the last eight years, Naomi Button and Kate Banerjee, who heads Jones Myers Children Department, have left no stone unturned in their painstaking campaign to bring Elsa home.

Launching and sustaining an international appeal for Elsa’s safe return, they have returned to Egypt on numerous occasions and instigated legal proceedings there. In 2012 Elsa was made a ward of court, giving judges the authority to make decisions about her movements, and Naomi has been awarded custody orders requiring Elsa to be returned.

A new spark of hope came from a recent High Court hearing headed by Mr Justice Mostyn who announced that a formal approach to the Foreign Secretary to use ‘all available diplomatic measures’ should be made.

Addressing the court, he said: “The cruelty that is being inflicted on this woman and on this child is formidable. It is hard to imagine the daily agony that this mother must endure”

He added: “I intend to write a judgment respectfully pleading with the Foreign Office to use all diplomatic measures to locate this British child, this ward of court, who has been missing for all these years…“Although there have been informal approaches to diplomatic sources, there hasn’t yet been a formal approach made.”

Kate Banerjee said: “I cannot begin to describe the eight years of heartache that Naomi has ensured in her agonising, and up to now, fruitless search to bring Elsa home. We wholeheartedly welcome Mr Justice Mostyn’s pledge to request the Foreign Secretary’s assistance in this heart-wrenching case.”

The Jones Myers blog features advice for parents who are concerned their spouse may take their children out of the country during a divorce.

Contact us on children issues or family law matters – call our Leeds office on 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office on 01423 276104, visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

The post New developments in Elsa Salama abduction case appeared first on Jones Myers.

The latest in our series of team profiles puts the spotlight on Kate Banerjee, head of the Children Department

What type of children law cases do you and your team work on?

We pride ourselves on making a real difference to our clients, representing children in the most difficult situations to improve their lives – and the lives of those caring for them. Our cases include adoption, child abduction, child arrangements, care proceedings, internal and external relocation and Court of Protection work.Where are your clients based?

Jones Myers has offices in Leeds, Harrogate and London and our clients are based, locally nationally, across Europe – and internationally. Our team are all experienced advocates; ensuring clients liaise with the same lawyer throughout their case. Today’s technology enables us to communicate effectively with our clients via the internet and Skype.

Do all the case you take on end up in court?

Half of the cases we take on are settled out of court. If clients can’t reach a settlement through informal negotiations, we guide them through options including non-confrontational routes such as mediation and collaborative law.

When going to Court is the only viable way forward, our highly experienced solicitor advocates and in house barrister pursue litigation in local and national Family Courts, High Courts and the Court of Appeal.

The firm has a reputation of being at the forefront of international child abduction cases – how do you support clients in these difficult and stressful situations?

In many cases, children are whisked away to countries that are not a signatory of the Hague Convention on International child abduction – an international agreement made in 1980. These countries include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, India and Iran to name but a few.

Such cases can prove especially challenging because there are no international systems in place to help parents who are desperate to find and be reunited with their children.

We have extensive experience in liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when children are removed from the jurisdiction and with the Home Office on cases involving the nationality of children and disputes relating to international aspects of these cases. We’re accredited to a specialist Panel operated by the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit in London.

What are the most significant and/or complex cases you have dealt with?
They include international child abduction cases in countries which are not bound by the Hague convention.

What is the single biggest change in family law you have encountered in your career?

The demise of Legal Aid in 2013 because those who most need advice are not receiving it – which is impacting on children involved.

How do you switch off outside work?
I enjoy spending time quality with my family and friends and dog walking. We have a very lively Cockerpoo who keeps us all on our toes!

For information about any aspect of children or family law, call Jones Myers at our Leeds office on 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office on 01423 276104, visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

The post At the forefront of international child abduction cases – Kate Banerjee appeared first on Jones Myers.

A call for more concerted action to prevent children in parental disputes being abducted overseas comes as yet more disturbing cases hit the headlines.

The stark reality is that around 1, 000 British children are taken abroad by the other parent without permission every year.

The appeal for a global campaign comes from the charity, Abducted Angels which raises funds for families to help them trace their children and bring them back. The organisation also enlists the voluntary services of social workers and counsellors to help rehabilitate abducted children.

In many cases, children are whisked away to countries that are not a signatory of the Hague Convention on International child abduction – an international agreement made in 1980. These countries include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Saudia Arabia and Zimbabwe.

Such cases can prove especially challenging because there are no international systems in place to help parents who are desperate to find and be reunited with their children.

The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) office will do its best to help but admits to having limited powers because it cannot interfere in the laws of a non-Hague country.

The severe psychological impact on children who have been abducted 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. Below are some tips on how to stay vigilant and keep your children safe.

Tell-tale signs to look out for:  

• Selling a house
• An interest in obtaining a copy of a child’s birth certificate
• Making moves to obtain a child’s passport
• Announcing a desire to go on holiday with the child/children and without the other parent
• Leaving a job

Preventative steps to consider:

• Apply to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO); this prevents either parent from taking their children to any specific events or any trips without the express permission of the other parent
• Ensure that contact is supervised and, in extreme cases, you may wish to stop contact altogether
• Keep passports safe and consider depositing them with a solicitor
• Contact the Passport Agency and ask them to block the other parent from applying for a new passport
• Notify the school about 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, who can issue a port alert to airports and ferry terminals. Recent photos of your child and the other parent, together with details of the airport or destination you think they may be heading, will help the police to focus their search
• Contact Reunite, a UK charity specialising in parental child abduction which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline.
• Seek legal advice immediately

For more information about child abduction, children’s issues, divorce or any aspect of family law, call Jones Myers at our Leeds office on 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office on 01423 276104, visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

The post Tell-tale signs and tips to help prevent your child being abducted appeared first on Jones Myers.

By Kate Banerjee, Partner and head of the Children Department

Child custody disputes and parental abduction are understandably the most traumatic and sensitive issues in divorce.

They are further intensified when arguments cross international borders and one parent refuses to surrender or share access to the children – even when instructed to by a court – and the other is left frustrated by unavailable, unfair or inaccessible legal remedies.

The recent Beirut kidnapping case, where Australian mother, Sally Faulkner, is in a Lebanese prison facing a ten-year sentence after a failed child recovery operation, is an example of what can happen when you take matters into your own hands.

Despite Faulkner being awarded sole custody of her two children, Lahala, six and Noah, four, by an Australian family court, her estranged husband, Ali Elamine, took them from the country nearly a year ago then refused to let them return.

The case is further exacerbated by the fact that Lebanon is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, which helps facilitate the return of internationally abducted children.

It is extremely difficult to return a child from a country that has not signed the Hague Convention. The challenges a parent faces in such circumstances can be overwhelming and desperately frightening as they struggle to get their child back.

Even when the country is a signatory, the process is extremely traumatic and abusive for the child or children involved as they are subjected to significant emotional harm.

Nevertheless, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) makes it very clear that if a parent tries to ‘re-abduct’ a child it cannot step in and mop up should things go wrong.

I have considerable experience in international child abduction cases and am a member of the International Child Abduction and Custody Unit. While most clients believe that the government can intervene to order and help with the return of a child to England and Wales, the reality is that although support is available, parental child abduction cases can take years to resolve.

Similarly, Faulkner and her lawyers must now sort things out without the help of the Australian government and are said to be trying to reach a new agreement with her ex-partner’s legal team. However, they have had to offer to give up her sole custody in order for criminal charges to be dropped.

Despite the risks, covert tracing and snatching of children who have been abducted is a thriving business – yet it would be far better if divorcing parents considered a few preventative steps which we have outlined in a previous post.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on child abduction or wider divorce related matters, leave a comment below, call the Jones Myers team on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce.

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The case of a Hampshire woman – who has recently made an emotional appeal on TV for the return of her two children who were abducted by her former partner – has put the issue of international child custody back into the headlines.

It is four years since Badar Mohammed Al-Barwani abducted Aisha, ten, and Faris, seven and put them in the care of his parents in Oman.

Despite being imprisoned for contempt of court after defying a High Court order to return the youngsters, he has refused to do so. The case is further exacerbated by the fact that Oman is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, which helps to facilitate the return of internationally abducted children.

The Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) dealt with 553 international child parental abduction and child custody cases in 2014. Reunite, the UK’s International Child Abduction Charity, likewise witnessed a 30% rise in the number of children abducted to non-Hague Convention countries in the same period.

The substantial increase prompted the FCO and Reunite to call on parents considering abducting their child to think through the devastating consequences for all involved. As specialists in this area, we are all too aware that this is a worldwide issue – and that the public’s understanding of parental child abduction is alarmingly low.

It is extremely difficult to return a child from a country that has not signed the Hague Convention – such as Oman, China, Pakistan or Somalia. The challenges a parent faces in such circumstances can be overwhelming and desperately frightening as they struggle to get their child back.

And even when the country is a signatory, the process is extremely traumatic for the parent left behind – invariably placing the child in the middle of an ugly dispute where the stakes are high – and where secretive actions often involve a myriad of deceptions.

It is also important to remember that whilst such situations are extremely traumatic for any parent, all cases are abusive for the child or children involved as they are subjected to significant emotional harm.

I have considerable experience in international child abduction cases and am a member of the International Child Abduction and Custody Unit. While most clients I speak to believe that the government can intervene to order and help with the return of a child to England and Wales, the reality is that although support is available, parental child abduction cases can take years to resolve.

So, if you are concerned that your child may be at risk, here are some preventative steps to consider:

• Apply to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO); this prevents either parent from taking their children to any specific events or any trips without the express permission of the other parent.
• Ensure that contact is supervised and, in extreme cases, you may wish to stop contact altogether.
• Keep passports safe and consider depositing them with a solicitor.
• Contact the Passport Agency and ask them to block the other parent from applying for a new passport.
• Notify the school about who is allowed to collect your child from school.

Take the steps below if you receive a threat of child abduction or if your child has been abducted:

• Contact the police immediately, who can issue a port alert to airports and ferry terminals. Recent photos of your child and the other parent, together with details of the airport or destination you think they may be heading, will help the police to focus their search
• Contact Reunite, which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline.
• Seek legal advice immediately.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on child abduction or wider divorce related matters, leave a comment below, call the Jones Myers team on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce.

The post How to reduce the risk of your children being abducted appeared first on Jones Myers.

The rise in parental child abductions – where a mum or dad snatches their own child – continues unabated.

Last year the Foreign Office dealt with nearly 500 cases – almost double the figure in 2005 –  and, according to a recent BBC programme, a British child is abducted and taken abroad by a parent, on average, every day.

Resolution, the organisation representing collaborative family lawyers, is addressing the growing need for the legal profession to be better informed and better able to help clients facing family law cases abroad. Its recent conference covered topics including how to spot and avoid abduction along with dealing with financial claims and maintenance after an overseas’ divorce.

International relationships and marriages are only part of the story behind the rise in abductions. Country specific family law legislation means that any issue relating to children can be challenging – with some parents prepared to take desperate measures. Even relocation abroad for work can push a parent into taking drastic actions to keep their child if their marriage breaks down.

The issue has been further catapulted into the media spotlight after two mothers calling themselves ‘Expat Stuck Mums’ launched a campaign aimed at mums and dads who find themselves trapped in a foreign country because the other parent forbids them to leave.

Like many people, these two women were unaware that children are automatically under a foreign jurisdiction when they move abroad because the new country becomes their ‘habitual residence’.

British courts have no say over what happens to the child and having British passports does not give either parent the right to take their children back to live in the UK without the consent of the other parent.

If there is a dispute about taking a child out of a country then requests must be settled by the family court in that jurisdiction. Whereas in the UK complex family cases are heard in a higher court, in many foreign countries a case may be heard by an inexperienced judge.

The Expat Stuck Mums are frustrated because they can ill afford to be stuck on foreign soil, often without any income and sometimes for years – yet risk prosecution if they abduct their children. They say that returning to the UK alone to fight for your child’s return isn’t an option as this could imply that you have abandoned your offspring.

As specialists in all matters relating to children, Jones Myers has first-hand experience of helping parents with returning their children to the UK. Here are some of our tips for dealing with international child custody issues:

1. Be absolutely certain that a move overseas is right for you and your family. Even a trial or short term move means that your children’s future will be decided by the laws of that host country
2. If you are unhappy abroad and want to return to the UK then try to negotiate with your child’s father or mother as a first step
3. Never be tempted to take the law into your own hands. If you abduct your child then your credibility as a parent will be irretrievably damaged – particularly if you have ignored a court order. You could also face a jail sentence
4. If you are concerned that the other parent could flee with your children then keep their passports safe – you could lodge them with a solicitor. You can also ask the Passport Agency in the UK to block the child’s mother or father from applying for a new passport
5. Notify schools, child minders and even friends, about who is allowed to collect your child
6. Contact Reunite, the UK’s International Child Abduction Charity, which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline -(0)116 255 6234
7. If you receive a threat of child abduction, or if your child has been abducted, then contact the local police at once. They will alert airports and ferry terminals. Photos of your child, the other parents and details of any destination or person they could be heading to, will be helpful
8. Seek legal advice immediately.

If you have any concerns about parental child abduction or any matter relating to children and divorce then please call us on 0113 246 0055, leave us a comment below or drop us an e-mail. You can follow us on Twitter at @helpwithdivorce

The post How to deal with international child custody concerns appeared first on Jones Myers.

I am saddened but not surprised to hear that the Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO)  dealt with 553 international child parental abduction and child custody cases across the last 12 months – and that Reunite witnessed a 30% increase in the number of children abducted to non-Hague Convention countries.

As the FCO and Reunite call on parents considering abducting their child to think through the devastating consequences for all involved in the countdown to the Christmas holidays, as specialists in this area, we are all too aware that this is a worldwide issue – and that the public’s understanding of parental child abduction is alarmingly low.

It is extremely difficult to return a child from a country such as China, Pakistan or Somalia   that has not signed the Hague Convention. The challenges a parent faces in such circumstances can be overwhelming and desperately frightening as they struggle to get their child back.

Even when the country is a signatory, the process is extremely traumatic for the parent left behind – invariably placing the child in the middle of an ugly dispute where the stakes are high – and where secretive actions often involve a myriad of deceptions.

It is also important to remember that whilst such situations are extremely traumatic for any parent, all cases are abusive for the child or children involved as they are subjected to significant emotional harm.

While most clients I speak to believe that the government can intervene to order and help with the return of a child to England and Wales – the reality is that although support is available, parental child abduction cases can take years to resolve.

The need to step up information campaigns is further reflected in a 37% increase in the volume of calls to Reunite’s advice line this year.

If you are concerned that your child may be at risk, here are some preventative steps to consider:

• Apply to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO); this prevents either parent from taking their children to any specific events or any trips without the express permission of the other parent.
• Ensure that contact is supervised and, in extreme cases, you may wish to stop contact altogether.
• Keep passports safe and consider depositing them with a solicitor.
• Contact the Passport Agency and ask them to block the other parent from applying for a new passport.
• Notify the school about 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 who can issue a port alert to airports and ferry terminals. Recent photos of your child and the other parent, together with details of the airport or destination you think they may be heading, will help the police to focus their search
• Contact Reunite, the UK’s International Child Abduction Charity which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline.
• Seek legal advice immediately.

For more information please e-mail us or call us on 0113 246 0055. You can also follow us on Twitter @helpwithdivorce

The post Why child abduction figures reinforce urgency for greater parental awareness appeared first on Jones Myers.

According to the Office for National Statistics, more than 500 children are abducted within the UK each year, either by a stranger, by someone the child knows or even by their own parent – which as a specialist in family law and international child abduction, we are sadly all too familiar with.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) has had an active alert system in operation since 2005, and in the event of a child abduction, alerts have quickly been issued to the media.

Now, in an innovative move designed to harness the ever-growing power of social media, I am pleased to see that the alert system has been extended to include members of the public.  A UK wide campaign has been launched to encourage people to register online via the Child Rescue Alert website and to date more than 11,000 people have already done so.

The enhanced system, which will be launched on May 25 – International Missing Children’s Day – will issue alerts via text, email, social media and digital billboards to all registered users the minute a child is deemed as missing.  Anyone with information can then call a dedicated phone number, where a centralised team will be working quickly to collate all of the information gathered and pass it to the relevant police force.Inflatable Ball

The Child Rescue Alert can be activated by any British police force when a child is known to have been abducted or their life is believed to be in grave danger.  There are however three criteria which need to be met before an alert can be activated:

•           The child must be under 18

•           There must be ‘reasonable belief’ that they are in imminent danger of serious harm

•           There is sufficient information for the public to be able to help the police investigation.

The aim of this unique partnership between police, press and the public is ultimately to increase the chances of the child’s safe return.  The more successful the campaign is to encourage people to register, the more effective the system will become to the police.

We wholeheartedly welcome the introduction of this updated system and believe that encouraging greater public participation will prove hugely beneficial in helping to track down abducted children.

This very important service is free, simple to use and it could end up reuniting an abducted child, or even perhaps saving their life.

The adage says ‘that it takes a village to raise a child’.  If that is true, then it may well be that it takes a community to save one.

Concerned that your child is at risk from parental child abduction? Advice from our children’s department

Understanding of parental child abduction is alarmingly low and cases can take years to resolve. The situation is made more difficult if a child is taken to a country that has not signed the Hague Convention, an international agreement between certain countries which aims to ensure the return of a child who has been abducted by a parent.

If you are concerned that your child may be at risk, here are some preventative steps to consider:

• Apply to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO); this prevents either parent from taking their children to any specific events or any trips without the express permission of the other parent.
• Ensure that contact is supervised and in extreme cases, you may wish to stop contact altogether.
• Keep passports safe and consider depositing them with a solicitor.
• Contact the Passport Agency and ask them to block the other parent from applying for a new passport.
• Notify the school about 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 who can issue a port alert to airports and ferry terminals. Recent photos of your child and the other parent, together with details of the airport or destination you think they may be heading, will help the police to focus their search
• Contact Reunite, the UK’s International Child Abduction Charity which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline.
• Seek legal advice immediately.

If you have any questions about parental child abduction please call us on 0113 246 0055, leave us a comment below or drop us an e-mail.

You can follow us on Twitter @helpwithdivorce

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