Open petition: Appoint a Guardian ad Litem for every child under 18 at first point of arrest
Created by Lovilia Henry
Closes on
Introduce legislation requiring the mandatory appointment of an independent Guardian ad Litem for every child under 18 at the point of arrest, before any interview or formal process begins.
Children are arrested daily without a single independent adult whose legal duty is to protect them. Over 4.6 million children grow up in homes shaped by poverty and abuse. Many are groomed into county lines and exploitation. At arrest they face the most critical moment of their lives alone. An Appropriate Adult is procedural. A duty solicitor protects legal rights. Neither acts solely for the child. The Guardian ad Litem exists in Family Court. It must now extend to the point of arrest.
23 signatures
Petition progress
View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.
-
Petition published
This petition can now be signed.
If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.
If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
This petition will stay open until 16 December 2026.