Are the Police Doing Enough to Protect Alienated Parents?

Parental alienation still remains one of the largest concerns across our society.

Many parents face tremendous emotional turmoil due to false accusations and harassment by the other parent.

In these turbulent situations, law enforcement is often the first line of defence.

Yet, many alienated parents feel let down by the very system meant to protect them.

This article examines how police shortcomings leave alienated parents vulnerable and offers insights into the urgent need for change.

If you're an alienated parent and need help with your situation then you should join PAPA today.

At PAPA we have several free to use support spaces, as well as several additional resources available to our Plus members, such as courses, PAPA AI, 1-2-1 help and workshops on family law and mental health.

The Reluctance to Charge Alienating Parents for False Allegations

False allegations against parents can manifest as claims of abuse or neglect, with motives often rooted in manipulation to sway custody arrangements.

A report from the Family Justice Observatory indicates that over 20% of custody disputes involve allegations that are later proven to be unfounded.

Despite the serious impact of these claims, police often hesitate to take action due to various factors, including a lack of training and understanding of parental alienation dynamics.

This systemic reluctance allows alienating parents to act with impunity, reinforcing a cycle of emotional abuse.

Studies indicate that 67% of alienated parents report experiencing severe mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, directly connected to false allegations.

Families struggle while the system remains static, failing to address the accountability needed for such behaviours.

Inadequate Response to Harassment Reports

The issue of harassment is another critical concern for alienated parents.

When an alienating parent engages in smear tactics, the damage can erode the targeted parent's reputation and emotional stability.

For example, reports show that victims of harassment can experience significant life disruptions, including 30% more job-related stress and relationship strain.

However, when these concerns are reported, many parents find the police dismissive.

Officers might wrongly categorise harassment as a civil matter. #

This attitude not only undermines the seriousness of the situation but also leads to feelings of isolation for the victim.

In fact, about 50% of parents facing harassment do not report it again after an initial dismissal, leaving them to fight a lonely battle.

Coercive Control and Its Consequences

Coercive control is a subtle yet destructive form of abuse that law enforcement often fails to recognise.

Behaviours such as monitoring communication or isolating the alienated parent from their network signify significant control dynamics.

Reports indicate that up to 90% of alienated parents experience some form of coercive control, leading to long-lasting psychological effects.

The lack of police response to these behaviours allows alienators to dominate their targets.

This absence of support can significantly affect the victim's emotional health and their ability to foster relationships with their children.

In many cases, children may also suffer from witnessed conflict, leading to increased behavioural issues and educational challenges.

Exploitation of Government Bodies

Alienating parents often manipulate government services like the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), CAFCASS, and Children's Services to further their agenda.

By fabricating narratives, they can manipulate these agencies into taking punitive actions against the alienated parent.

Research indicates that over 40% of alienated parents experience interference from these bodies, leading to financial strain and mental distress.

When police dismiss reports of such manipulation, they reinforce an environment where exploitation flourishes.

This lack of intervention not only harms the targeted parent but also raises concerns about the overall integrity of child protection systems.

Victims may face unwarranted legal consequences, undermining their ability to advocate for their children effectively.

The Misconception of Civil Matters

Many police officers operate under the belief that family-related issues are civil matters.

This perception often leads to the dismissal of significant concerns such as harassment and coercive control as being outside their jurisdiction.

A staggering 70% of cases involving alienation remain unreported due to this misconception.

By failing to recognise these behaviours as criminal, police unknowingly enable further abuse.

Families are left to grapple with the fallout alone, leading to increased silence around these issues.

Victims, when dismissed, are less likely to seek help, allowing toxic patterns to persist unchecked.

The Need for Change

The current approach reveals an urgent need for systemic changes to better support alienated parents.

Police training programs focusing on the nuances of parental alienation and coercive control are essential.

The introduction of specific courses can give officers the knowledge to identify and address these issues effectively.

Moreover, there should be a societal shift to view family court matters as potentially criminal.

Understanding the implications and recognising harmful behaviours is the first step toward ensuring victims receive adequate support and protection.

The Path Forward

The police's failure to shield alienated parents from abuse and false allegations is a pressing concern that demands immediate action.

By addressing the obstacles around false allegation charges, enhancing response protocols for harassment, and clarifying the laws related to coercive control, we can foster a safer environment for all parents.

Law enforcement must take these concerns seriously to build a support system for alienated parents.

To create a future where healthy parent-child relationships are valued and protected, we need to break the silence surrounding these issues.

By amplifying awareness and prompting decisive actions, we can help ensure that no parent suffers alone.

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.