 Parents and guardians found guilty of murdering their partner will have their parental rights taken away, the justice secretary will announce today. Alex Chalk will introduce 'Jade's law', named after Jade Ward who was stabbed and strangled by her partner who retained parental rights from prison. Now the measure will be brought before Parliament by the end of the year, Chalk is expected to say at the Tory conference in Manchester today. He will say: 'Jade Ward's case and the moving campaign of her family has exposed an injustice in our family justice system, one that we are committed to fixing. 'Murderers who kill their partners should not be able to manipulate and control their children from behind bars, which is why we are fixing the law to protect families from this appalling behaviour.' Set to be included in the Victims and Prisoners Bill, the policy will introduce an automatic suspension of parental responsibility for any parent serving time for killing the partner they shared such responsibility. Jade Ward family have spent years campaigning for the change (Picture: PA) Current law says the family or guardians of the children must consult with the remaining parent on decisions from health and holidays to school. This would see the victim's loved ones having to face the perpetrator in court every time a major decision about the children is made. But Jade's Law will ensure the children are protected from their remaining parent having any say in their life, justice officials said. A child's best interest will be a top priority for the courts, the Ministry of Justice added, with the remaining parent having a right to appeal. Jade was killed by her partner Russell Marsh in 2021 all while their four sons slept in their Flintshire, north Wales, home. Marsh, who will spend 25 years behind bars, still has a say over whether his children can go on holiday and can request to se){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Parents and guardians found guilty of murdering their partner will have their parental rights taken away, the justice secretary will announce today.
Alex Chalk will introduce ‘Jade’s law’, named after Jade Ward who was stabbed and strangled by her partner who retained parental rights from prison.
Now the measure will be brought before Parliament by the end of the year, Chalk is expected to say at the Tory conference in Manchester today.
He will say: ‘Jade Ward’s case and the moving campaign of her family has exposed an injustice in our family justice system, one that we are committed to fixing.