Claire Throssell, a mother of two children tragically killed by their father, has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to prioritize child safety. Speaking at the Labour Party conference, she highlighted the need to revise guidelines to prevent further tragedies like the deaths of her sons, Jack and Paul.
The boys were victims of a horrifying incident in 2014 when their father, Darren Sykes, deliberately set fire to their home, resulting in the deaths of the children and himself. Claire, from Penistone, Sheffield, is advocating for changes in laws and a thorough review of the family justice system to protect children from abusive parents.
She emphasized the flaws in the current Children’s Act, where judges often default to a presumption of contact with both parents, even in cases of known domestic abuse. Claire’s heartbreaking experience underscores the urgent need to shift away from this ‘pro-contact’ culture in family courts to prevent further tragedies.
Recent data from Women’s Aid revealed that since Jack and Paul’s deaths, 19 more children in England and Wales have been killed by parents granted access despite a history of domestic abuse. The report sheds light on the dire consequences of maintaining a system that prioritizes contact over child safety.
Claire’s advocacy extends to challenging the government to fulfill its promise to combat violence against women and girls, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding every child’s right to a safe and secure future. Her upcoming book, “For My Boys,” amplifies her call for change, urging authorities to prioritize child welfare over contact assumptions in custody cases.