Emergency child order

[lynntracey83]

My EH is an alcoholic, has been for years and had two medical detox's so far. He was doing well and was sober for a while, seeing our 3 children regularly. Things went down hill drastically and I stopped contact. He then moved 200 miles away and hasn't been in touch for 12 months. I received a threat from him to say he was coming to take the children and that he means to keep them from me. I ignored it but he has since had a drunken argument with one of his family and made the same threat again. I have spoken to my solicitor and reported the threats to the police.
I'll be applying for an emergency court order to protect them from him but I'm at my wits end, I'm not sleeping or eating and I'm so scared for the children to go back to school. We only live 10 minutes away so they'll walk home from school. They'll be going into Yr9 and Yr7 so don't want me there with them. My eldest is at college and as awful as it sounds I'm so not worried about her. I've spoken to them all and shown them a picture of the car I believe he has, they know not to get in the car and have stated several times they don't want anything to do with him. But I'm scared. He has tried before but failed. What else can I do? I don't want to suffocate them but I don't want them out of my sight.....

As soon as you get the order, send the school - office and safeguarding lead - a copy for each child with clear instructions that he is not to attempt to remove them and they should not be leaving with any adult at the end of the day, either.

Depending upon what the school arrangements are for the end of the day, it's likely that senior members of staff will be present to supervise leaving, getting on buses and the like. With ours, the new Year 7s with older siblings will be supervised to wait until they come out - your older child there could be prompted to go and tell straight away if they see him and to run back into school/into a safe place, such as a shop and ask for help if he is waiting for them further down the road.

Not sure what you have had from the police but they shuld be putting your child on alert system and your house as well as the mobiles for all the kids so if the Police are called on attmpted kidnap then there is an immediate response.

Totally understand why they wouldnt want you to collect them at that age, but due to the circumstances could you not just do it for a few weeks at least, until the threat has either died down or escalated? You could park round the corner from school ir meet them at an agreed place, and let them know its just temporary until things calm down.
I agree with letting the school know etc as above, and good you have seen a solicitor already, I hope things improve for you all soon

Apply for an ex parte non molestation order, he won't know about it until its served. You can ask for it to cover your children also. He won't be allowed within 100 meters of them if it covers them also

Take them to school op. They’re a kidnap risk by a violent man, that’s a bit more important right now. Also notify the school ASAP, don’t wait until you’ve got the order. They can’t legally stop him taking the children, but if he turns up they can stall him long enough to phone you so you can intercept him

Also, could you keep a tracker of them via an app such as find my friends or google maps? You can also get trackers that sew into clothing if needed too

It doesn’t matter what the kids want, it’s what they need. They need dropping and collecting to keep them safe.

@RB68

Not sure what you have had from the police but they shuld be putting your child on alert system and your house as well as the mobiles for all the kids so if the Police are called on attmpted kidnap then there is an immediate response.

They aren't likely to do that without a court order

@QuacksInTheDark

It doesn’t matter what the kids want, it’s what they need. They need dropping and collecting to keep them safe.

I have spoken to them and I will be near by or be collecting them until this calms down.

@SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel

Also, could you keep a tracker of them via an app such as find my friends or google maps? You can also get trackers that sew into clothing if needed too

Looking at trackers now. Thank you

@Itsjustabitofbanter

Take them to school op. They’re a kidnap risk by a violent man, that’s a bit more important right now. Also notify the school ASAP, don’t wait until you’ve got the order. They can’t legally stop him taking the children, but if he turns up they can stall him long enough to phone you so you can intercept him

The police and my solicitor have written to the schools and they will delay anything until I get there. It's along the road they're more at risk. Until I can stop the threat.