Parents who kill a partner stopped from having control over children’s lives under Jade’s Law
PARENTS who kill a partner will be stopped from having control over their shared children’s lives — in a huge victory for The Sun.
They will be stripped of the right to choose which schools their offspring go to and even if they can have a passport, as ministers bring in Jade’s Law.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today said: “New rules announced by Alex Chalk today will create an automatic suspension of parental responsibility from a person convicted of murdering their partner.
“This will make sure the needs of the child are put first and the burden on the family members will be removed.
“Monsters who murder their partners should not be able to manipulate their children from behind bars, that’s why we are fixing the law to protect children and families.”
He said the law would be known as Jade’s Law after Jade Ward, 27, was murdered by estranged partner Russell Marsh in 2021.
Marsh was sentenced to life but carried on holding parental rights over their four children.
He is still able to access the boys’ medical records, school reports and can even stop them from going on holiday.
The Sun launched a campaign to support Jade’s Law – with it today coming into force.
The PM added: “Jade Ward was stabbed and strangled by her partner as their children were sleeping.
“Her killer has requested school reports and medical details of their children from jail. He could even block them going abroad.
“That’s not right and it ends now.”
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
In his keynote speech at Tory Conference in Manchester, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said these killers have caused enough harm, as he moves to close the legal loophole.
Mr Chalk said: “Thanks to the passionate campaigning of Jade’s family, and The Sun, we are creating an automatic suspension of parental responsibility from a person who is convicted of killing a person with whom they share parental rights.”
The measures will be part of the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which also gives judges powers to make offenders attend court for their sentencing.