To think the UK should have safe haven laws?

[IIama]

As in hospitals and medical units should be fitted with baby boxes like those used in Europe and the United States for people to anonymously leave their baby in.

Sadly there are many babies who get abandoned and some who even die after being exposed to the elements.

I don’t understand the political resistance to them when they work well in comparable countries. Surely this would save lives?

I've never heard of these but they sound like a good idea.

I'm glad you posted this. When you think about it, it's really odd that we don't have this.

Sadly there are many babies who get abandoned and some who even die after being exposed to the elements.

I'm not sure that there are many abandoned babies in the U.K. Do you have any data?

I am probably being ignorant about this all, but can a reluctant mother go to A&E and hand her baby in?
I used to work in a kid's hospital and we did have someone leave their baby in a toilet. I can only imagine how desperate a new mum must be to feel living their baby somewhere and hoping someone finds them, is the best way forward.

Canada only has a few locations sadly, not that it's a frequent occurrence but an update on safe haven's is sadly needed.

@Yarnasaurus I'm not sure data is necessary. We all know it happens. 2 or3 times every year you hear about this. That's 2 or 3 times too many.

I think people would still be too frightened to use them due to them number of cameras around now at places where these boxes would be.

It is sensible to have data to evidence a need for new legislation, and to gain support.

I would like to know the scale of the problem when being asked to support a position.

Yes but a law could be introduced to guarantee anonymity and non prosecution for babies given up in a safe way.

According to a BBC report from 2013 as many as 50 are abandoned each year, although one is one too many imo.

Is there a need for them in the UK. How many babies a year are actually abandoned on the street? (That’s a genuine question. Is it something that happens a few times a month/a year etc).

is there evidence that these boxes save babies. I worry these things are often done without there ever being proper evidence of their effectiveness. Would a mother who would place their baby in a safe haven box not just put them somewhere else safe (eg leave the, in a hospital hallway) if the safe haven box were not available.

This is obviously anecdotal but where I'm from we have them and they do work.

I think it helps take away the judgement and make it more acceptable, trying to hand in your baby to a packed hospital or other busy space would be much more daunting. OP I agree this would be a great idea, I didn't even know it's not a thing in the UK!

Whenever a baby is left somewhere, there usually follows the press and appeals asking for mum to come forward. Will she be arrested? Or maybe she might need medical attention after having just given birth?

The difference between a safe heaven place and abandoning a child , is that one is a crime and can come with prosecution and a prison sentence.

Safe havens are no questions asked, it's not considered abandonment or endangerment of a child, and the mother has a certain period to change her mind.

I do think that if I was in that position I wouldn’t really trust that I wouldn’t be traced or get into trouble. Often the mothers in this position in the U.K. are very very young and wouldn’t really know the laws or about these havens.

I think anything that encourages safety for the baby in these situations is good.

ideally there would also be a way to check the mother over with no repercussions but I see why that is a lot harder

I can’t remember where but I read an article which suggested reasons we don’t have them. The main two that stand out are the child’s right to know their history / genetics - known to be important for adopted children. Secondly, a woman abandoning a baby like that is presumably in a very bad and unsafe situation, and this would support abusers in avoiding professionals who could intervene, further putting the woman and existing children at risk.

I could go for that if there was a feasible alternative. But realistically the women in that desperate position will still find somewhere to leave the baby, just not somewhere as safe.

I could go for that if there was a feasible alternative. But realistically the women in that desperate position will still find somewhere to leave the baby, just not somewhere as safe.

And if all women in that situation had actual help and support in a timely fashion.