Jade’s Law to be introduced for the better protection of children from violence

Date: 5th October 2023
Category: Special protection measures

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The UK Government has announced that the Victims and Prisoners Bill will be amended to further protect children from domestic abuse and violence. Jade’s Law will be introduced, named after a victim of domestic violence and her family who campaigned for greater protection of children and for their best interests to be always considered.

UK Government says the new law is aimed at giving children greater autonomy from an abusive parent who has been convicted of murdering the person with whom they share parental responsibility. It will restrict parental responsibility and suspend their decision-making powers over key elements of their child’s life. UK Government says this is to prevent child victims and families from having to carry the burden of entering the courts to suspend parental rights.

This new law will apply to anyone convicted of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of a person with whom they share parental responsibility and, according to the UK Government, “would then be reviewed swiftly by a judge to ensure it is in the best interests of the child”. An automatic exemption would be put in place in cases where a domestic abuse victim kills their abuser.

• Find the UK Government press release here.