Police in England and Wales have recorded more than 200 offences of parental child abduction in 2016/17¹. Action Against Abduction’s research found that nearly two thirds of child abductions by a parent recorded by police involved the child being taken abroad².
Many more cases of international parental child abduction are not reported to, or recorded by, police. Reunite, another charity specialising in international parental child abduction, opened 520 new abduction cases in 2013³. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office dealt with 553 international parental child abduction and child custody cases in 2013/14; double the number recorded a decade ago⁴.
Studies with professionals who work with abducted children, and with adults who were abducted earlier in life, indicate that children can experience severe trauma, often continuing into adult life. This includes physical, emotional, behavioural and social impacts including difficulties forging relationships as an adult⁷. Our Sarah-Cecilie film gives a vivid insight into one woman’s experience.
¹ Newiss, G. (2018) Police-recorded child abduction and kidnapping 2016/17 England, Wales and Northern Ireland. London: Action Against Abduction.
² Newiss, G. and Traynor, M. (2013) Taken: A study of child abduction in the UK. London: Parents and Abducted Children Together and Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.
³Reunite, personal correspondence.
⁴Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Duddrige, J. (2014) Parents urged to consider devastating consequences of child abduction. Gov.UK, 18 December 2014.
⁵Lowe, N. (2008) A statistical analysis of applications made in 2003 under the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Part II – National Reports; and Lowe, N. (2011) A statistical analysis of applications made in 2008 under the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Part III – National Reports.
⁶Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2011) Campaign launched to help tackle international parental child abduction. Press release: 28 June 2011. London: Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
7Freeman, M. (2014) Parental Child Abduction: The Long-Term Effects. London: International Centre for Family Law, Policy and Practice.