I write to my MP to push for change. This is my latest email to him.
Dear Mr Macdonald,
I live at REMOVED. I am a level 7 registered BACP psychotherapist specialising in helping clients recover from stress, anxiety, depression, and abuse.
Did you know that sexually violent parents are regularly granted custody or contact rights in England? Even convicted paedophiles are awarded access to their children through family court decisions.
I work with adults who were forced as children to be in contact with their sexually abusive and violent parents. I also work with parents whose now divorced sexually abusive and violent parents are still given access to the kids. In both scenarios, the impact is devastating.
A 2023 study by the University of Manchester found that violent men are using parental alienation allegations as a weapon to trap, silence, and pathologise mothers. Source
The later 2024 independent govt report into the way Family Courts handle abuse confirmed this. Govt Report
Even when there are guidelines, the concept that children have the right to be safe seems to pass some judges by completely.
I am writing to you because I want you to a) speak up about this, b) push for legal changes, and c) ensure that judges follow new laws.
Please push for:
- Change in Law Regarding Presumption of Contact: The family court system prioritises parental contact at the expense of child safety. This approach has led to situations where children are placed in contact with abusive parents.(The Guardian, Walker Family Law)
- Transparency in Family Court: Family courts have had little to no public scrutiny due to secrecy laws. This is now changing a little but it’s not enough. Lack of transparency hampers efforts to assess the extent of the issue, and allows judges to ignore basic principles of safety.
To help your staff research this, here are some resources with solid information.
- BBC Investigation (2023): A BBC investigation uncovered multiple cases where children were compelled to have contact with fathers accused of abuse, including some who were convicted paedophiles. In these instances, the fathers leveraged claims of "parental alienation" to counter allegations against them, sometimes resulting in the courts granting them custody or contact rights. (Today's Family Lawyer, The Guardian)
- Domestic Abuse Commissioner's Report (2023): The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales highlighted systemic issues within the family court system, noting that the misuse of "parental alienation" claims can overshadow genuine abuse allegations, potentially endangering children. (Govt Report, The Guardian)
Parliament must not delay in reforming a system that continues to prioritise access over safety—children’s lives depend on it.
Yours sincerely,
Ellen Whyte
