Local MP calls for government to change the law to save children’s lives

In Parliament, Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, highlighted the harrowing new report by Women’s Aid to the Justice Ministers. The report reveals that a total of 67 children have been killed over the past 30 years by a known domestically abusive parent, in circumstances related to the courts’ use of the presumption of contact.  

During her question, Marie told the Government that “two of those children, Jack and Paul Sykes, are the sons of my formidable constituent, Claire Throssell. All these deaths were preventable.”  

‘Presumption of contact’ is a legal principle which allows parents who have a known history of domestic abuse to have unsupervised contact with their children.  

The local MP asked the Minister to update on the progress of the government’s ongoing review into the presumption of contact. The government is currently undertaking this review, as result of a recommendation in the Ministry of Justice’s Harm Report.   

Marie’s question comes shortly after the 5 Year Anniversary of the publication of the Harm Report, which found serious failings in the family courts for children’s safety and welfare. The Report recommended that presumption of contact is “reviewed urgently, in order to address its detrimental effects”.  

In response to Dr Tidball’s question, Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Justice, said: 

“The killings of Jack and Paul were horrendous crimes and I would like to pay tribute to [Marie Tidball] and to her constituent, Claire, for their tireless campaigning on these issues.”  The Minister updated on the progress of the government’s review, telling the local MP: “I am sure that she would agree that the guiding principle for any reform must be children’s welfare. That is why we have requested a review of the presumption of contact. We will be publishing findings and next steps very shortly.”  

Following the exchange, Marie Tidball MP, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said:  

“Women’s Aid’s heartbreaking report makes clear the urgent need for reform to the family courts, to repeal the archaic presumption of contact, and to centre children’s voices in child contact cases. Women's Aid have made clear that this pro-contact culture in the family courts is costing children’s lives—every single death in this report was avoidable.    “I am honoured to work with Claire Throssell MBE to repeal the presumption of contact. It was reassuring to hear the Government confirm that they will be publishing the findings of their review into presumption very soon.  “Claire’s sons, Jack and Paul, were never heard by the family courts. Claire promised her sons that no more children would die in the same circumstances. I will not stop until Claire fulfils her promise.”