Ministry of Justice

102 Petty France,

London SW1H 9AJ

The Right Honourable David Lammy, Secretary of State for Justice

Urgent Demand for Implementation of Section 18 (Jade’s Law) in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024

Dear Secretary of State, Permanent Secretary, and Ministry of Justice Officials,

I write to you not only as the architect of Jade’s Law, but as a father, campaigner, and advocate for countless families who continue to suffer under the weight of an injustice Parliament has already recognised and sought to remedy.

When Section 18 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 was passed, it was heralded as a landmark moment, a promise that children bereaved by domestic homicide would no longer be forced to live under the shadow of their parents’ killer retaining parental responsibility. It was meant to be automatic, immediate, and protective. Yet more than 18 months after Royal Assent, this safeguard remains unenacted, dormant on the statute book, and families remain exposed to the very trauma Jade’s Law was designed to prevent.

The Human Cost of Delay:

I have sat with grandparents, siblings, and carers who are forced into costly, traumatic legal battles simply to shield children from the influence of the person who murdered their parent. These carers, already carrying the unbearable grief of loss, must endure emotionally devastating Family Court proceedings against the perpetrator, fighting for an outcome Parliament has already agreed should be automatic.

I have listened to carers describe the instability and fear they face when trying to make basic decisions about a child’s counselling, schooling, or even something as simple as a holiday. Each decision risks challenge from behind prison walls, prolonging instability for children who desperately need peace and security.

I have witnessed the prolonged victimisation caused by bureaucratic inertia. The failure to issue a Commencement Order sends a cruel message: that even when Parliament recognises injustice and legislates to correct it, victims can still be left waiting, exposed, and unprotected because of administrative delay.

My Own Heartbreak:

I conceived, created, and designed the legal framework of Jade’s Law, the very mechanism that would automatically suspend parental responsibility upon sentencing. It was a safeguard born from careful research into the law at the time, and more importantly, on what would be the most meaningful legacy for Jade. It was crafted to spare families the agony of litigation and to give children immediate protection. The government later formed the final structure of Jade’s Law from this framework, embedding it into the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.

To see this safeguard stalled at the final administrative stage is heartbreaking. It diminishes the parliamentary victory, betrays the intent of the law, and leaves families in limbo. For me, as the architect of this solution, it is profoundly disheartening to witness a simple, logical protection, one designed to deliver swift relief, remain dormant because of bureaucratic delay.

My Demands, On Behalf of Families:

I therefore call upon the Ministry of Justice to act immediately:

A Final Appeal:

Every day Jade’s Law remains unenacted, a child bereaved by murder and their selfless carer are denied the safety and peace of mind Parliament voted to provide. Every day of delay compounds grief, prolongs trauma, and undermines trust in the justice system.

I urge you, Secretary of State, to act now. Honour the promise Parliament made. Honour the families who have already suffered too much. Honour the principle that justice must not only be legislated, but enacted.

I await your urgent and positive confirmation that this vital provision will finally be commenced.

Sincerely,

Edwin Duggan LLB (Hons)

On behalf of bereaved families, victim advocacy organisations, campaigners, and concerned citizens

Endorsements:

This letter carries not only my voice, but the voices of many. It is endorsed by victim advocacy organisations, parliamentary campaigners, bereaved families, and concerned citizens who have taken the time to add their names in solidarity.

Their signatures represent the collective demand for justice, the shared grief of communities across the country, and the united call for Jade’s Law to be enacted without further delay.