Steven Wade is a family law advisor (McKenzie Friend) with nearly 20 years of experience helping people represent themselves in court. Having been through the system personally and supported thousands of others since, he knows what it’s like to face the stress, confusion, and pressure of doing it alone. This blog shares practical insights that empower you to take control of your case — without the legal jargon or the hefty solicitor’s bill.
Can I call the police if my ex won’t let me see my child?
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Can I call the police if my ex won’t let me see my child?
It’s amazing how many people believe this one – `Can I call the police if my ex won’t let me see my child?’ The answer to this is simple.
No.
Maybe I should have waffled a bit more before I answered the question and no one is reading this or anything below it. But this is a nice, simple one (unlike lots in law).
Thing is – the police deal with criminal matters. Denying contact is a civil one. While I’m at it, I need to say breaking a civil court order (like a Child Arrangment Order) is also a civil matter so the police won’t do anything to enforce them. Give me a ring and you’ll almost certainly be told to speak to a solicitor or take the matter to court – which is a great piece of advice.
Your options are…
So the police are right. That’s not to say you should never call them. If you have genuine welfare concerns – serious ones – it’s in the best interests of your children to give them a call so the police can do a welfare checklist. They do have the power to remove children from parents if there is a serious and imminent danger or else if they have a court order that tells them to do so. But. Both of these are very rare occurences and almost certainly isn’t relevant to your case.
If you’re expecting your children and your ex is breaking the court order your options are:
- Do nothing (tacitly agreeing with it all).
- Contacting your ex and politely pointing out you were expecting the children as per the court order.
- Asking if everything is OK.
- Accepting they’re ill – if that is what you have been told – and asking when you can rearrange contact so the children won’t lose out.
Doing any of the above (or a combination thereof) should of course be child-focused, friendly and documented for future hearings and/or applications.
But…
Calling the police is likely to inflame the situation. No one wants the police banging on the door, demanding they see the kids. If you’re the one who has done this because your ex is denying contact, doing this is liable to make things harder – not easier. Your ex is hardly likely to come round to your point of view. Their solicitor is likely to suggest you’ve done so to get back at your ex and it’s upset the kids.
You will be the bad guy.
So. Call the police only if you have well-founded concerns that would leave you saying `I should have called them’ if you hadn’t done so and something bad had happened!
I’d hope you’d call someone like me if this is the situation you’re in. You can do that by booking an Ask Me Anything session online!
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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