Petitions/Strengthen self-defence rights for adults who intervene to protect children
StatusOngoing
Opened10 Mar 2026
Closes
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

We call on the Government to amend self-defence law to give explicit statutory protection to any adult who reasonably and proportionately intervenes to protect a child from immediate assault, sexual assault, or grooming.

We would like: - Rebuttable presumption that force used to defend a child was reasonable. - Immunity from “excessive force” charges when honestly believing a child was in imminent danger and acting in good faith. We believe that too many hesitate, fearing arrest. We think this could remove that fear and encourage intervention, while keeping force proportionate.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Derek Twigg
1Derek Twigg MP
Widnes and Halewood
3
Justin Madders
2Justin Madders MP
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
2
Jack Abbott
3Jack Abbott MP
Ipswich
2
Rebecca Smith
4Rebecca Smith MP
South West Devon
2
Nesil Caliskan
5Nesil Caliskan MP
Barking
1
Michelle Scrogham
6Michelle Scrogham MP
Barrow and Furness
1
Juliet Campbell
7Juliet Campbell MP
Broxtowe
1
Oliver Ryan
8Oliver Ryan MP
Burnley
1
Dr Peter Prinsley
9Dr Peter Prinsley MP
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
1
Marie Goldman
10Marie Goldman MP
Chelmsford
1