UK criminalises keeping children abroad without consent

The United Kingdom has recently criminalized the detention of children abroad for longer periods than agreed upon without the necessary consent. This new offence, punishable by up to seven years in prison, was introduced under section 137 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026. The new provision amends the Child Abduction Act 1984, which comes into effect as of November 6.

The amendment addresses a longstanding gap in the country's child abduction laws, following a 2012 High Court decision that clarified the scope of the existing legislation. The new offence targets situations where a child is initially taken abroad with consent but subsequently detained beyond the authorized period. It applies to parents or other individuals connected with a child under the age of 16 who keep the child outside the UK without proper consent.

Exceptions to the offence include situations where detention is covered by court orders or specific arrangements, such as parental responsibility or special guardianship. The government expects the majority of international parental child abduction cases to continue being resolved through civil proceedings, including those under the 1980 Hague Convention.