Submitted on Thursday 9th October 2025
Rejected on Friday 14th November 2025
Current status: Rejected
Rejection code: already-happening (see below for details)
Expand UK child cruelty laws to include emotional and psychological abuse
Current UK child cruelty laws do not adequately protect children from emotional and psychological abuse. The law should be updated to recognise and prosecute non-physical forms of abuse that cause lasting harm.
Update UK child cruelty laws to include emotional and psychological abuse. Currently, victims are left unprotected unless physical harm can be proven. The law must recognise emotional abuse as equally serious, ensuring justice for survivors of non-physical cruelty. The government should provide clear training and guidance for police, CPS, and social workers so every child is protected. No child should grow up believing their pain doesn’t matter simply because it can’t be seen.
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The Government e-Petitions Team gave the following reason:
Emotional and psychological harm was added in 2014 which you can find more information about below:
Summary in press release: www.gov.uk/government/news/damian-green-child-cruelty-law-to-be-updated#:~:text=Children%20will%20be%20better%20protected,are%20protected%20by%20the%20law.
Factsheet: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80beb9e5274a2e8ab51eaf/Fact_sheet_-_Updating_the_law_on_child_cruelty_-_Act.pdf
Set out in Section 66 (3) of the Serious Crime Act 2015 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/9/part/5
216.73.217.50 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 02:30:03 +0100
