Many parents think that as a parent of a child they are free to take the child out of the country as and when they want. That is not necessarily correct. If two people hold parental responsibility for a child, then both parents need to give consent for a child to be taken out of the country. If that consent is not obtained and a child removed from the country, even if for a holiday, then that can constitute an act of international child abduction. Child abduction works both ways i.e. children can be abducted from and to England and Wales. If you think your child is at risk of being removed from England without your consent then there are remedies available from the English court and you must act urgently. Similarly, if you think your child has arrived in England and Wales without your consent then there are certain steps that can be taken to safeguard the child in this country. You must take urgent advice either way.