Murdered toddler's family back in law change fight
SuppliedThe family of a murdered toddler are taking their fight for a change in the law back to Parliament.
Two-year-old Maya Chappell was shaken to death by her mother's boyfriend at home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, in 2022.
A petition in support of Maya's Law, seeking new safeguarding measures for at-risk children, was signed by more than 100,000 people triggering a debate in Westminster Hall, which will be held later.
The case was last debated in October, 2025 when Children's Minister Josh MacAlister said it was not the right time for such a scheme and that many of the family proposals were reflected in reforms the government was already planning.
Maya's family has campaigned for a child risk disclosure scheme which would involve sharing information with a parent or guardian, improved multi-agency communication and early intervention.
Gemma Chappell, Maya's great aunt, said: "I'm hoping that MPs sit up and listen and start really understanding what we're asking for.
"I'd really like to move from getting sympathy from people to action."
Maya was killed by drug-user and domestic abuser Michael Daymond, who had started a relationship with her mother. He was later jailed for life.
The toddler's mother Dana Carr, who had ignored weeks of "torture" waged on her child by Daymond, was jailed for nine years for allowing her death.
The girl's wider family said she would "still be alive today" if laws disclosing a parent or a caregiver's history had been in place.
Rachael Walls, Maya's great aunt, said the family want to create a legacy for her by campaigning on the issue.
She said: "It's just keeping positive memories of Maya in your head and making sure we keep her memory alive."
The debate in Parliament will be led by Sunderland Central Labour MP Lewis Atkinson.
In response to the petition calling for the introduction of Maya's Law, the government said: "We are delivering significant reform across children's social care, policing and the family court system to better safeguard children and stop them falling through the cracks of services."