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?

Neither the lady she is living with nor I can afford a solicitor - going to see what the police say on Tuesday.

That can be changed by her GP, according to the website.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/profile/contact-details/

Just messaged the lady she is living with and she said they did that as soon as she registered with new GP - phew!

Given that the parents are not UK citizens they seem hell bent on compromising their residency in the country

I wonder if their behaviour should be reported to Immigration

I don't think that whether either of you can afford a solicitor would be relevant, OP.

It's the client's situation which is relevant.

Legal Aid may well be a possibility.

I think that it is important that she sees a solicitor.

The lady she is living with said when she sorted YPs visa (not sure what that means) that alerts were coming through saying her parents had tried to access it.

I’ll see what the police and SS say on Monday and Tuesday and then possibly enquire about a solicitor after that.

@leavesinthebreeze

Do you think that this is relevant, OP?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forced-marriage-protection-orders-fl701/forced-marriage-protection-orders

Possibly. I know she won’t speak out against her parents though accept to say she doesn’t want to live with them.

As an aside - we’re having a roast chicken dinner tomorrow, what can I do alongside the veg that she might like and be a treat? My brain is frazzled at the moment

Keep a note of this, OP.

https://www.bindmans.com/legal-services/individual/family-law-solicitors/divorce-and-relationship-breakdown/forced-marriage-protection-orders/

If an arranged marriage is not wanted by the bride, whether openly or, more usually, I imagine, kept to herself, then it is a forced marriage, no matter what the ‘arrangers’ or cultural apologists think.

Thank you

She is absolutely open to an arranged marriage (or was) and takes her religion very seriously. But her parents have gone beyond that.

Have you contacted the forced marriage unit?

Contact them ( ie safeguarding) now. The safeguarding leads will very likely reviews emails over the weekend. Any head start you can get the better.

Im sorry if I am repeating myself, but some Citizen Advice services offer immigration and legal advice. Some will not deal with minors ie under 18, but this case sounds so extreme there may be exceptions. Ex-CA trustee.

Yorkshire puds, any left overs can be served warm with brown sugar for pud. For veg: corn on the cob with butter - treaty and delicious.

Did you get any help from karma nirvana ?

I would do cauliflower cheese and some Yorkshire puddings as a treat l, get a nice dessert too

On the legal advice front, and general support - it’s worth checking if you or the lady she’s living with have access to an Employee Assistance Program through your work. A lot of companies provide them.

They’re often remarkably good, offering similar services to citizens advice and nhs first line mental health support but without the wait times and queues.

That’s what we did! 😀

Yes - spoken to them this morning. They were brilliant!

So glad you spoke to Karma Nirvana. I remember going to a learning event, where they spoke about honour based violence and forced marriage. They were very impressive.

They were brilliant. We have done everything practically we can but just speaking to them was amazing. They also said to make sure that the police who are attending tomorrow are Nirvana Karma trained - which I have asked the police. They were so kind and said even if I just want to call back and vent or ask questions then I can. Fab!

How long has she has IRL ? Perhaps speak to an immigration solicitor and see what they need to do to get her British citizenship sorted and what the timescales are and what documentation is needed.