Closed petition Make Emotional and Psychological Abuse of Children a Specific criminal Offence

Closed on 30 June 2021

We the undersigned believe that more must be done to prevent the maltreatment of children, defined by unacceptable levels of behaviours and actions towards children by a parent, care provider or trusted adult, resulting in long term detrimental, devastating effects to both child and their loved ones

Every child deserves the right to justice, protection by laws and understanding that the behaviour of the offender is wrong no matter the level, not that their behaviour must be unacceptable to justify such suffering.
Non involved child abandonment, manipulation, non communication, lack of feeling loved are but a few examples of this type of abuse, yet currently not a separate offence. Emotional abuse was the only form of abuse to see an increase in Childline counselling sessions from the previous year (ONS report 2019)