How sex abusers who target their children are allowed to keep parental responsibility

Victims' commissioner tells Maya Oppenheim how she plans to ensure that those convicted of abuse are no longer entitled to make important decisions about their children's wellbeing

A mother is desperate to change her child's surname - so that they no longer share it with their criminal father. But Emily* is being blocked from doing so by her ex, despite the fact that he is a convicted child sex offender. Her predicament is not unique. Under English and Welsh law, child sex abusers are able to keep their parental rights in the UK, even if they target their own children. This allows them to retain influence over where the child lives, as well as their healthcare and education.

Getting parental responsibility revoked is an intensely protracted process that requires going through the family courts and can cost as much as £30,000 to £50,000. But London’s victims’ commissioner, Claire Waxman, is tabling an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill that would mean that child sex abusers who target their own children or stepchildren have their parental responsibility revoked.

“Sexual abuse by a parent or step-parent is one of the most psychologically damaging crimes that children can endure,” Ms Waxman told The Independent. “It is an abhorrent gap in our justice system that, when these offenders are convicted, they maintain their parental responsibility over their victims. The children in these cases and the adults caring for them should not be subjected to additional psychological, and potentially financial, suffering by having to make applications to family courts to have this parental responsibility revoked.”