EMERGENCY: 911 | NON-EMERGENCY: 519-537-2323 | ADMINISTRATION: 519-421-2800 | CRIME STOPPERS: 519-421-8477
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| Parental Abductions |
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If you and your spouse are having difficulty and you fear your child may be abducted, you should seek legal advice. You may wish to consider applying to the Court for a custody order. Know and maintain as much current information about your spouse (or ex-spouse) as possible, including Social Insurance Number, driver's licence number, credit and other financial information, current address, and employer. Do not withhold or unfairly manipulate your spouse or ex-spouse's access rights if he/she is acting in accordance with a custody agreement. Frustration or anger is an underlying reason for abduction of many children by a parent. Attempt to maintain friendly or at least civil relations with your spouse or ex-spouse and your former-in-laws. Friendly relations will reduce tensions and the potential for parental abduction. If your child goes to school, a day-care centre, summer camp, or a babysitter's home, take a copy of any custody order and a photograph of the non-custodial parent to the person in charge. Explain exactly who is permitted to pick the child up. Be sure that everyone involved knows the situation. This will lessen the risk that your child will be turned over to an un-authorized person. Abducting parents frequently tell children that the other parent doesn't want them anymore or that the other parent has died. Assure them that they are loved and wanted. Make a record of any threat by a spouse or ex-spouse to abduct the children. Such a record can help you get safeguards incorporated into custody and/or access orders. |