To report parents for not registering the birth of a child

[Anon6356237]

Should I stay out of it or report? I'm concerned the child could fly under the radar if there are any concerns if they are not 'in the system'. Who would I report to?

If you're CERTAIN they've not registered the birth, then report it. Its not fair for the child if in later life they are barred from doing all the normal things a citizen can do - applying for passport etc.

Yes I agree that the state should not interfere too much with family life. However, it is not for parents to take away their children's rights.

This was in the news yesterday. The high court certainly thought the child should be registered.

I would tell someone , the implications for the child may be immense, the family will get a fine . But when you are an adult and your parents haven't registered you ,the government might not be sympathetic as many Windrush citizens have discovered , when their parents hadn't completed paperwork for them .

how do you know that's the case?

Because if you are prepared to go to such lengths to avoid your child ending up being 'owned' by the government there's no way you'd go about casually blathering off your mouth about it to all and sundry and risk SS or some other feared and distrusted branch of government swooping down on you to snatch your child away.

Literally doesn't make sense. Even in the worst case scenario ie paedophiles, cult or child abductors. Why the hell would you tell an outsider this really important secret?

But saying 'our child is not registered by the local authority' is a casual statement to those secure in their choices. Could even be said boastfully if they're the smug annoying type.

I home educated myself and encountered this sort of confusion in conversation before.

Yes, report it. As others have said they should have been followed up after the birth was reported to the registration office nearest to the child's place of birth (be that at home or in hospital). It is appalling not to be vaccinated, not to be able to travel (no passport), no dental care, no child benefit etc. No National Insurance number later would make it difficult to work. I suppose it is possible that the medical care could be arranged privately, but private practitioners would surely ask for details of the child's GP practice?
I do know people who have successfully home schooled children for a time, but many children end up in formal education when they realise that they are missing out on school friends and a wider range of qualifications than can be organised at home.

Haven’t rtft but what would happen if the child was seriously ill and needed medical attention?! 😱

This is about the recent case where a child wasn't registered:

Man who refused to register son's birth loses high court case
Father said he did not want his baby to be controlled by the British state

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/23/man-refused-to-register-sons-birth-high-court

A man who refused to register his son’s birth because he says he does not want him to be controlled by the state has lost a high court case.

Tower Hamlets social services, the London council which has responsibility for the baby’s welfare, asked a high court judge to intervene in the case after the man and his partner, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, failed to register the child’s birth earlier this year.

Mr Justice Hayden ruled the council had the right to step in as the child’s “institutional parent” to register the birth.

(read whole report at URL given above)

This isn't about the rights of the parents.

It's about the rights of the child...

I probably would talk to her .Tell her she has informed you of something which you arent comfortable with and if she doesnt register her child you will feel obliged to report this.Maybe talk about how this impacts upon the child.i.e healthcare,travel,future schooling or job.

I would definitely report this.

Many years ago in my home town the child abuse activities of a religious cult were exposed, which sadly included murder. The absence of the children concerned had passed unnoticed because they hadn't been registered and therefore didn't exist administratively. (Their bodies were a coincidental finding in a separate investigation - I know someone will ask.)

It's beyond rare of course, and unlikely to be what's happening here, but an unregistered child is incredibly vulnerable. I would hesitate to report a goodly chunk of what gets discussed on MN, but this I wouldn't even have to think about.

I don’t know for definite but I find it very hard to believe that someone who has never registered their child’s birth would openly chat to others about it. Most who do this are very paranoid so will share this information with no one and move regularly to avoid detection. Clearly the OP isn’t that close to them so I really believe they meant they’re not registered as home schooled. If it were me I’d make sure I was clear on the situation before interfering.

I lurk on a legal advice forum, and every week, there's teens and young adults asking how to get registered or a SSN (US)--basically how to be acknowledged as legal people, so they can do things like have a job, get paid, rent a flat, etc. It's a quagmire at that age.

Absolutely report it. The government will not own their child; that's sovereign citizen nonsense. It means that no matter what, someday, their kid will have it easier if they want to join mainstream society.

If the children seem well and safe to you then there is no need to interfere in their ideological choices. They can register themselves at 16.

RTFT moon2

There’s having a “social conscience”

There’s “genuinely caring about all children”

And then there’s interfering in other people’s lives”

I’m not saying I agree or disagree, I registered my own child for my own reasons.

I’d mind my own business & watch out for karma.

There not vaccinated omg quick call the police it's there kid it's upto them if they vaccinate or not!

@Dragonbait yeah, how do you know?

Midwives complete a notification of birth within 36 hrs and this notifies authorities of the new baby. Parents have a legal obligation to register the birth.
Plus they won't get child benefit without it

Keep your nose out of it. It is of no consequence and they'll be on a register somewhere. Too many do-gooders getting involved in other peoples business. Do you all have such perfect lives? Some people may live differently to you and it isn't your affair.

Literally doesn't make sense. Even in the worst case scenario ie paedophiles, cult or child abductors. Why the hell would you tell an outsider this really important secret

It very much does make sense. This is "freeman on the land" style bollocks. The parents believe they know some magic incantations (that's not what they think they are but it is, in effect, what they are) that allow them to be exempt from the law. They believe the UK is actually a company, not a country, and that registering a birth gives the UK control over their child. They believe they have special knowledge that we should all have and that those who deny the truth of their beliefs are stupid. As far as they are concerned this is not a secret. And they don't fear SS or any other arm of government taking their child away. They believe they are exempt. They believe they cannot be touched.

they'll be on a register somewhere.

What register?
Can it be any more vague?
Sure...just ignore everyone and everything around you in the hope that someone,somewhere won't.. unless it's a member of the public of course. Because then you should just mind your own business.

I don't know if some posters are selfish,ignorant or plain stupid when it comes to the wellbeing of others, especially children.

I had a bf who wasn’t registered, he could only work cash-in-hand and never went a GP or dentist. He was also abusive because of his childhood. Haven’t seen him for over 30 years and I don’t give a flying fuck about it but he won’t get a state pension because hadn’t got a National Insurance Number.

How has the child had health checks and vaccinations? I would report - other issues may be going on.

I am an electively home educating parent & have been for a couple of decades.

As a group I think EHE families get over reported to SS etc... however if I came across a child I genuinely believed was not registered at birth I would report it.

I have to say though I find it unlikely someone would just randomly tell you that they had done something like that.

Are you sure they didn't say they were not registered with the council as in not currently on a known to be home educated register?

If it's the latter (& the child seems happy & healthy), which honestly seems more likely then I'd leave them alone because there is not even legally meant to be a register & they are not breaking any laws.