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Original poster

What could he possibly need them for

161 replies

skyisthelimit1 · 01/03/2021 12:57

Few weeks ago I asked my DH of 12 years to leave. He's been abusive and controlling and I couldn't take it anymore.

Last week he came to the house to see the kids and before he left he asked for the kids passport he said he needs to take copies of them incase I lose the passports and I end up need the passport number. I said to him I won't and if I do I'll just report them lost. anyways after arguing with him I decided to let him take copies.

Now I'm worried, what can he do with the copies? He also has copy of my passport in his phone.

OP posts:
Wobblywombat · 01/03/2021 17:29

Cautionary tale - Australian mother’s experience with Lebanese father “stealing” their children.

I don’t want to scare you but you do need to be careful - maybe find a way to ensure that he never has all the kids at once / isn’t allowed to cross the border with them.
If the 7 year old is mature enough you could try to coach them to know how to reach you if something out of the ordinary is happening?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/world/middleeast/sally-faulkner-australian-mother-child-custody.amp.html

Original poster
skyisthelimit1 · 01/03/2021 17:31

I've just reported the British passport lost and will do the same for the Irish ones.

I can't really talk on the phone right now as my 3 kids go crazy as soon as they see me on the phone. I know I will get All nervous distracted and won't make sense to anyone Blush. I know it's sounds pathetic but I will wait for my friend to come over in the morning so I can make calls without them DC screaming in the background.

OP posts:
oil0W0lio · 01/03/2021 17:43

Good luck OP!

Disressingtimes · 01/03/2021 17:48

[quote babycorn]You can get a caveat put on your children's passports, so that if they are reported as lost in order to apply for new ones, you are alerted.

www.gov.uk/stop-child-passport[/quote]
I feel sick reading all the posts, this one gives me a little hope that snatching them might not get him as far as he thinks!

Disressingtimes · 01/03/2021 17:51

@skyisthelimit1

I've just reported the British passport lost and will do the same for the Irish ones.

I can't really talk on the phone right now as my 3 kids go crazy as soon as they see me on the phone. I know I will get All nervous distracted and won't make sense to anyone Blush. I know it's sounds pathetic but I will wait for my friend to come over in the morning so I can make calls without them DC screaming in the background.

Hang on, if they are already reported as lost, surely him applying for new ones will make sense to them and they could then just reissue them to his new address? Unless you do as @babycorn suggests and put a caveat on to be alerted if he does.
babycorn · 01/03/2021 17:56

When you apply for new ones, make sure you get the caveat put on them, all you have to go is fill out the online enquiry form, and they will email you back, or call them.

Just dug out the email they sent when I got one on dd's passport, and copied and pasted;

Please submit a copy of the photograph page of your child's current passport. This will enable me to place their details on HM Passport Office monitoring systems
to prevent the issue of a further passport - unless you apply and to prevent the cancellation of their passport by a third party.

And is on the passports until they expire... so if he or anyone reports them lost and tries to get them new ones, you are alerted straight away.

It also says this;

HM Passport Office do not monitor travel if you have concerns that your child may be removed from the UK without your permission you should seek legal advice regards obtaining a child arrangements order
to prevent this or contact your local Police who are able to provide information regards Ports Alerts.

So you should do this as well, as many pp's have said!

babycorn · 01/03/2021 18:00

Sorry, forgot to include quotation marks!

I've also attached a screenshot on the relevant page of the leaflet they emailed me.

What could he possibly need them for
kerbearr · 01/03/2021 18:04

OP with the Irish passport you have to report it stole to the guards or the police before you can request a new one. But due to covid I'm near sure all you need to do now is fill the form out online, just double check how that one works. And I'm near sure if you request a kids again you need to show pictures of each kid for each year of their life, if that makes sense, that's with an Irish one I'm not sure if that's with a British one.

Endofthelinefinally · 01/03/2021 18:08

Huge red flag.
Report as lost and apply for new ones before he does.

ancientgran · 01/03/2021 18:11

It happened to my sister, she couldn't get her children back. He didn't even have passports, he had a private plane and when he got back to his country they just let them in.

Contact reunite.org it is a charity specialising in child abduction. They will be able to give you help, support and advice.

I hope your children are safe. It is a living hell for all the family when children are abducted.

minniemoocher · 01/03/2021 18:12

Make sure you find a solicitor who is versed in international custody and abduction. Cities with very high ethnic populations are a likely place to look - my friend had a solicitor in Leicester who was great. Managed to get a travel ban essentially

UhtredRagnarson · 01/03/2021 18:12

I don’t understand why OP needs to report the passports lost when she has them in her possession? Surely she just needs to apply for the caveat?

It’s a serious issue to report a passport lost when it isn’t. Legally that sounds dodgy.

babycorn · 01/03/2021 18:19

That's why I suggested it! You literally call up and request it!

NoMackerelInSwindon · 01/03/2021 18:22

@skyisthelimit1

Do not attempt to sort this yourself directly with the Passport Office.
Do not attempt to sort this out with the help of well meaning friends.

Read - Fatwa by Jacky Trevane.

Get a solicitor with experience of international custody law as posters are advising you. Do not gamble your children away.

Endofthelinefinally · 01/03/2021 18:26

@UhtredRagnarson

I don’t understand why OP needs to report the passports lost when she has them in her possession? Surely she just needs to apply for the caveat?

It’s a serious issue to report a passport lost when it isn’t. Legally that sounds dodgy.

Because he has the photos and numbers and he can report them stolen, then apply for new ones to be sent to him. You only need one parent's signature.
Endofthelinefinally · 01/03/2021 18:28

My DH got replacement pp for our DC when he lost them. Not for any nefarious reasons, just because I told him to sort it out as it was his fault. It was very easy for him to do.

UhtredRagnarson · 01/03/2021 18:30

Because he has the photos and numbers and he can report them stolen, then apply for new ones to be sent to him. You only need one parent's signature.

Yes but Op doesn’t need to report them lost to prevent that, just request the caveat be applied.

babycorn · 01/03/2021 18:31

That's why the caveat is so important, it means that no-one but you can apply for new ones!!! And if anyone does try the lost/stolen trick then attempts to get new ones, you are alerted straightaway, they ring you to check.

That would solve the physical issue of the passports, obviously not the rest of the issues.

okokok000 · 01/03/2021 18:31

@Graphista

I'd be very worried in your shoes considering the many issues with custody abductions and the Middle East.

As I said get legal advice ASAP preferably from an organisation with expertise in this particular area

I agree with this.

One of my parents is from the Middle East. The other England. They split up for a while when I was a toddler. There was a risk I was going to be taken to the Middle East (had been threatened). I ended up being made a "ward of court". So whilst I stayed in the custody of the resident parent, neither could remove me from the jurisdiction here.

Obviously this was a long time ago and processes change. Definitely week advice. The above might be an option for you.

okokok000 · 01/03/2021 18:32

*seek not week

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 01/03/2021 18:33

@UhtredRagnarson

I don’t understand why OP needs to report the passports lost when she has them in her possession? Surely she just needs to apply for the caveat?

It’s a serious issue to report a passport lost when it isn’t. Legally that sounds dodgy.

The husband has copies now, with all numbers, if he wishes to apply for a new passport to replace one lost I think they will need all current details

If the passports he has details for are cancelled then presumably this puts a spoke in his wheels!

I really don't know if this will have any bearing on him getting them a passport for his nationality...that surely will just need " no, they have no other passports, here are details of mine and my wife's" so I think there is still need for a great deal of caution. ...can you cancel and replace yours too OP??

maddiemookins16mum · 01/03/2021 18:33

@BusterGonad

Agreed. The mention of the middle East fills me with fear for you.
This 100%.
maddy68 · 01/03/2021 18:34

I would report them as lost and order new ones don't tell him

Belinda554 · 01/03/2021 19:05

Bloody hell, I’d be defacing the current passports and seeking an immediate injunction.

The idea that he could take them and you would never see them again....too awful for words.

I wouldn’t send them back to school without legal steps being in place. Don’t make any mistakes, it would be a lifetime of misery, for you and the children.

Thimbleberries · 01/03/2021 19:16

Can you also see if there is a way to stop hiim getting passports of the ME country by contacting their embassy in this country? I don't know what their attitude might be like, but if they are in the UK, they might be more aware of the problem. But get on to a specialist lawyer as soon as possible, as it sounds like he could be as devious as anything, and he could easily get through any school passwords etc, if the children are happy to identify him as their Dad and go with him if he told them to/promised them something etc - the schools seriously need to know what is happening, and every single member of staff that might be releasing the children.

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