My Parliament Campaign
16th October 2025 - during Second Reading of the Crime and Policing Bill in the Lords, Baroness Beeban Kidron said she had “four further areas of concern.” Her first was the way Data Preservation Notices (DPNs) from the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 are working in practice. She reminded the House that peers had added provisions empowering coroners to require tech firms to preserve data when a child has died, noted that proposals for automatic preservation and statutory guidance were rejected, and said bereaved families still aren’t benefiting because notices aren’t used quickly enough or understood, and that she will table amendments to make the law work as intended.
23rd September 2025 – I responded to the Government’s consultation on Data Preservation Notices (DPNs) and Coroner Information Notices (CINs), highlighting gaps that put vital digital evidence at risk. I called for automatic preservation of a child’s social media data, standardised templates, and clear oversight to ensure bereaved families can access crucial information about their child’s final days.
14th August 2025 – met with Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE, a life peer in the UK House of Lords and internationally recognised for her work on children’s digital rights, online safety, and how the digital environment intersects with childhood. During our discussion, I raised my concerns that the new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, specifically Data Preservation Notices — is still not working properly in practice for bereaved families.
15th May 2025 – I met with Minister Jones (Department of Science and Technology), Minister Johnson (Home Office), and Minister Davies-Jones (Minister of Justice) to discuss the Data Bill. I stressed the urgent need for training for Police and Coroners so the powers in the Bill are understood and applied, ensuring no other bereaved parent is left without vital data.
13th January 2025 – My petition was debated in Parliament. MPs agreed that parents should have the right to seek answers using social media data when a child has died. I was offered a ministerial meeting and continued to press for an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill.
17th July 2024 – During the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament, the Government confirmed that the Data (Use and Access) Bill would be reintroduced.
30th May 2024 – The petition closed with 126,033 signatures – well above the 100,000 threshold needed for a Parliamentary debate.
28th May 2024 – We reached 100,000 signatures. I was on a train to London and felt overwhelmed with joy.
21st May 2024 – With just nine days before petitions were due to close early because of the General Election, I asked the public for one birthday wish: “Please sign and share my petition.” Grace Carter made another video appeal, which helped push signatures to the finish line.
27th April 2024 – I launched a government petition:
#JoolsLaw – Parents to have full access to their children’s social media.
My son Jools was 14 when he ended his life in 2022. Since then, I have never been able to access his accounts to see what might have contributed. Parents should have the right to access their children’s social media accounts, both while alive (to help keep them safe) and after death.
Grace Carter, who I had never met before, reached out from Aphra and offered to create a video to support the petition. Her help was invaluable in building momentum.