A family who spent over £30,000 to protect a child from her paedophile father has criticised new UK legislation. They believe the law fails to prevent similar trauma for others. The proposed amendment to the Victims and Courts Bill addresses parental rights for paedophiles, but only in limited cases.
The bill removes parental responsibility from child sex offenders—but only if they abused their own child or stepchild. This condition does not help all victims. The change would not have helped the case of “Bethan,” a mother who fought in court to protect her daughter.
Bethan’s ex-husband was convicted of serious child sex crimes and barred from contact with children. Yet he retained full parental rights. That gave him legal influence over his daughter’s health, schooling, and living arrangements.
Although he could not send letters to the child, he still wrote weekly from prison. Only after long legal battles did the court remove his parental rights completely. The judge barred him from all contact, including social media, until the child turns 18.
Bethan’s family celebrated the court ruling but felt the law should have protected them from the start. Former MP Harriet Harman called the case a “glaring anomaly” and proposed automatic removal of parental rights after a conviction.
The government initially supported this proposal. In April 2024, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk backed the change. He said children must be protected from those unfit to care for them.
However, a general election delayed the change. When the Labour government returned with a new draft in May 2025, the wording had changed. Now, only those who abuse their own child and receive at least four years in prison would lose rights automatically.
Bethan’s parents were deeply disappointed. They urged lawmakers to revisit Harman’s stronger version of the bill. They argued that parental rights for paedophiles should be removed in all serious cases—not just within the immediate family.
The law’s second reading takes place today. Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said she would work with families to improve the bill. She stressed the importance of making parental rights for paedophiles laws as strong as needed.
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