CHILD ABDUCTION UNIT
Parental child abduction
Here at F.B.I. we have found by far the most common kind of child abduction is parental child
abduction and this often occurs when the parents separate or begin divorce
proceedings.
A parent may remove or retain the child from the other
seeking to gain an advantage in expected or pending child-custody
proceedings or because that parent fears losing the child in those
expected or pending child-custody proceedings.
A parent may refuse to
return a child at the end of an access visit or may flee with the child
to prevent an access visit or fear of domestic violence and abuse.
Parental child abductions may be within the same city, within the
state/ region or within the same country, or may even be international.
Depending on the laws of the state and country in which the parental
abduction occurs, this may or may not constitute a criminal offense.
For
example, removal of a child from the UK for a period of 28 days or more
without the permission of the other parent (or person with parental
responsibility), is a criminal offence.
Statistics have shown that 500 children a year are abducted from the UK alone and New data reveals a stark
rise in child kidnapping by estranged parents.
Abductions usually occur when marriages
break down between couples of different nationalities, and the parent
who is not awarded custody kidnaps their children. Now is peak abduction
season, as children are taken abroad during the school summer holidays
and not returned.
The government has
little power to intervene in around 40% of all abduction cases, as they
involve children being taken to countries not signed up to the Hague
convention, an international treaty which obliges nations to promptly
return children wrongfully retained in their jurisdiction. Experts say
it is often almost impossible for mothers to get back children taken by
their fathers to Islamic countries with Sharia law, such as Saudi
Arabia, which prioritise male parental rights.
What Parents need to do in advance if they fear that their Ex partner may try to take the child:
1) Obtain a Court Order preventing removal from the Country
2) Notify the passport agency not to issue a passport to the child
3) Seek an order the other parent to lodge a bond of money with the court which will be forfeited if the child is not returned
4) Have a pack ready to give to the police as soon as the threat of
abduction is real and imminent which should include photographs of the
child and other parent and copies of birth and marriage certificates,
translated if necessary and a copy of the child’s passport.
ABOVE ALL, CALL F.B.I.
DETECTIVES AS SOON AS YOU THINK YOUR CHILD MAY NOT BE SAFE AS PREVENTION
IS THE KEY, SO OFTEN AFTER THE EVENT IS TOO LATE. IN 40% OF CASES THE
GOVERNMENT OR POLICE CAN NOT HELP YOU.
F.B.I. DETECTIVES WILL.
We will assist you with
planning and training in the prevention of Child Abduction, it is
imperative that your child remains safe and in your custody as you might
not get a second chance
