{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/776054.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":776054,"attributes":{"action":"Give police emergency powers to return children withheld by a parent","background":"We call on the Government to amend the law to grant police immediate emergency powers to recover a child when a parent withholds them in breach of an active Court Order or shared care agreement.","additional_details":"Currently, when a parent breaks a family court order and refuses to return a child, the police often refuse to intervene, calling it a \"civil matter\". Parents are forced to wait months for new court hearings while their children are alienated and legal orders are ignored with impunity. The law has a dangerous gap. We need emergency police enforcement powers to protect children and uphold court decisions immediately, instead of allowing parents to break the law while waiting for future court.","committee_note":null,"state":"open","signature_count":33,"closing_date":"2027-01-30","created_at":"2026-07-04T10:35:29.584Z","updated_at":"2026-07-31T20:31:30.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-07-30T11:02:15.814Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-04T18:01:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Justyna Anna Kowalczyk","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"HO","name":"Home Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":33}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Aldershot","ons_code":"E14001063","mp":"Alex Baker MP","signature_count":8},{"name":"Bracknell","ons_code":"E14001117","mp":"Peter Swallow MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Farnham and Bordon","ons_code":"E14001234","mp":"Gregory Stafford MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Godalming and Ash","ons_code":"E14001249","mp":"Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hunt MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North East Hampshire","ons_code":"E14001392","mp":"Alex Brewer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North Northumberland","ons_code":"E14001397","mp":"David Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North West Hampshire","ons_code":"E14001403","mp":"Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"Reading Central","ons_code":"E14001438","mp":"Matt Rodda MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Salisbury","ons_code":"E14001460","mp":"Rt Hon John Glen MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Surrey Heath","ons_code":"E14001532","mp":"Dr Al Pinkerton MP","signature_count":8},{"name":"Watford","ons_code":"E14001568","mp":"Matt Turmaine MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Woking","ons_code":"E14001592","mp":"Mr Will Forster MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wokingham","ons_code":"E14001593","mp":"Clive Jones MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Edinburgh North and Leith","ons_code":"S14000079","mp":"Tracy Gilbert MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North East","ons_code":"A","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":27},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":2},{"name":"Scotland","ons_code":"M","signature_count":1}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}