16yr old has no access to her ID

[leavesinthebreeze]

NC for this as quite outing.
Basics are:
16yr old has runaway from home. She is now settled and safe with a family friend. Social services are satisfied she is safe so have closed the case with her. She has applied to start college in September. The problem we currently have is that her parents are withholding her passport and her birth certificate. She was born in Bangladesh but moved here 5 years ago. We have been unable to get her an NI number, register her at a GP surgery or open a bank account because she has no ID. I sought legal advice (free) who said get the police involved. The police said seek legal advice. I have emailed the Bangladeshi consulate to enquire about a replacement birth certificate it not heard back yet. College told her she can get a bursary when she starts there but with no ID this is not definite now. I have contacted Muslim Women’s Network who have been supportive but there seems to be no way to get these documents without having to pay gor replacements (money she doesn’t have). She is currently looking for part time work and has a share code to show she it’s entitled to live and work here. The family friend she is living with is not an official guardian and SS did not suggest that should happen.

Has anyone got any extra advice or anything I have missed in trying to get these documents from her parents?

Nope. Nothing. Honestly it was a nightmare - SS at the time were happy that she was with me and didn’t do much. As soon as she was back home there was no follow up or anything.

She doesn’t want an arranged marriage - ever.

You are correct that "arranged" is not a synonym for "forced" in cases where the bride and groom are both 18 or over. This girl is 16 and her parents have threatened her with it.

That’s it. We don’t know. She thinks it’s just a threat but is worried incase it isn’t because they forced her to Bangladesh last time.

Can you take out a court a specific issues order and order the documents to be returned you could have a penal notice attached to it so if they don’t provide the information they can be arrested. Am sure she can apply for this order herself given she’s 16?

It would probably be cheaper and quicker to order replacements - but it’s still a lot of money for us to find.

Get her to call all the GP practices in the area local to her parents address and ask them to check if she is registered. When she finds the right one, they will be able to give her her NHS number

I think the application might be free as this is a form of domestic abuse if not it’s around £250 and you could ask for an emergency hearing be seen within 2 weeks.

You can make a UC claim without a national insurance number and without a bank account. I’d start a claim now whilst awaiting the driving licence. Bit of info here. https://www.akt.org.uk/resources/claiming-benefits-while-homeless/

Ooh good shout! Hadn’t thought of that. Will they give it out over the phone though?

Tried that. UC said she is not eligible. We are appealing but they said she doesn’t have enough proof of ID or address. And round and round we go 🤦🏽‍♀️

I will look into that. Thank you.

I don't know what you're trying to say here? Forcing someone into an arranged marriage against their will is forced marriage.

If they won’t give it over the phone, once she has found out which GP practice she is registered with, she could visit in person to request her NHS number

Have you tried Help at Hand?
Freephone: 0800 528 0731
Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/help-at-hand/contact

Tell them she’s 16, has left home because she doesn’t feel safe, has no ID or money, and needs help replacing her Bangladeshi birth certificate and passport. Children’s Services haven’t helped, so she needs an advocate and financial support to get her documents.

Will give it a go. Thank you!

Thank you. Will try them tomorrow.

I wonder if this is the sort of thing your coal MP would get involved in, especially in the case of a passport being withheld. They may be able to put some pressure on the local Police or P&C commissioner.

You seem to be being deliberately dismissive. Why not leave op alone instead of not listening to what she’s saying , and then trivialising it.

Hi, OP. I haven't read the whole thread, but have read your messages. Have you considered that she could sign herself into care as a looked after child? Here's something about that from the Family Rights Group, and here's Buckinghamshire's policy. Try googling the local authority the child is living in and "Southwark Judgement". The charity Crisis (homelessness) also has some guidance, but I can't link it here because it's a download.

I agree. There's a time for being pedantic about the "forced" versus "arranged" distinction, but this thread, about a 16yo who doesn't want an arranged marriage now or ever, isn't it.

Also get her to tell GP surgery that she doesn't want any info sharing with her parents. She can do this post 14 but if they are as controlling as depicted theyay well still manage her NHS account.and have access to her notes etc

Could you or she with your help ring up a few possible GPs near her old address.
Ask to make an appt.
Check their website first. There may be some services from the nurse that are easier to access.
It doesn't matter what.
At some point they will ask for her details.
If they can't find her on the system they will say so.
But. With them being doctors they may not have registered her or only with a tame private doc.
But it's worth a try.

Also how about contacting domestic abuse agencies or women's aid.
Take a wide sweep.
Are you in London?
Solace operates in Islington I think.
But there are others all over.
Good luck.
Does she know about the teaspoon project.
Just in case parents ever try to get her on a plane.

Perhaps try calling NHS 111 to establish which GP practice she is registered at.

She may not need to try and request the information, rather, just phone around all the GP practices where she used to reside and request an appointment. If she's not registered they will tell her they can't find her to create an appointment. If they accept her then "bingo" she's found her practice. She can attend appointment for, say OCP, which should then generate a prescription which will have her NHS number on it.

She can then register with a new practice using the NHS number and give her old practice name and address to transfer her docs.

Ultimately if the new practice is willing to work around it, when they register her, it will inform the NHS Spine which will de-register her from her old practice and transfer her registration over to the new practice. Her notes will follow but it is not a quick process.