Prohibited Steps Orders
A Prohibited Steps Order (PSO) is a court order designed to prevent a parent from taking certain actions in relation to a child, such as removing them from the other parent’s care or taking them abroad without permission.
Where both parents hold parental responsibility, each is ordinarily entitled to spend time with the child, and the Police cannot intervene unless there are immediate safeguarding concerns or a court order in place.
If you have reason to believe that the other parent may attempt to remove your child from your care, you may apply to the court for an urgent Prohibited Steps Order. This order can:
- Prevent one or both parents from removing the child from the other parent’s care.
- Restrict removal of the child from England and Wales.
In cases where you fear that an abduction is imminent, you should also notify the Police. They may be able to issue a Port Alert, which can prevent a child from being taken out of the country.
Prohibited Steps Orders are also an important safeguard for children at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Forced Marriage.