Parliamentary debate on Maya’s Law to take place today

Maya’s great aunt, Gemma Chappell, says the Government “must step up and back Maya’s Law” to prevent the deaths of innocent children.

Defenceless Maya died in Newcastle’s RVI in September 2022, days after being violently shaken by her mother’s new partner, Michael Daymond, at their home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham. Tragically, her family learnt of her injuries via a post on Facebook after seeing a picture of Daymond in handcuffs.

Maya died when she was just two-years-old (Image: FAMILY)

He was jailed for life, while Maya’s mother, Dana Carr, was handed a nine-year sentence for allowing her daughter’s death.

Gemma and Rachel Wells, also the toddler’s great aunt, have been campaigning for Maya’s Law to be set up in her name since September last year, backed by The Northern Echo.

Rachael Walls and Gemma Chappell (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The proposed law would mean police, councils, health services and social care agencies would have a legal duty to share safeguarding information when concerns arise, ensuring families are aware of potential risks.

The family will travel to Westminster today as MPs debate their petition for a law change, after it topped 100,000 signatures in January.

Gemma, a police officer from Blackhill, Consett, said: “We’re just a family from a small location in County Durham, but we’ll never stop battling for Maya’s Law.

Gemma with the Bridgehill, Consett sign (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“It makes us so proud that we’ve got to this point so quickly after setting up Maya’s Law.

“We’ve got a long way to go, and we’re not naive to think that it’s the debate and then that’s it, we have a lot of work to do and a mountain to climb after this Parliament debate.

“We’re doing this to give Maya a voice, and all of the other children who have been killed in the same way. They’re not just numbers; they were sons, daughters, nieces, nephews.

“Over 110,000 people can’t be ignored. Politicians can ignore us when the debate is on, potentially, but what can’t be ignored is that we had all of that support during the petition stage, and that won’t go away.

Maya with her great aunt, Gemma Chappell (Image: FAMILY)

“Now is the time that we need MPs and the government to back Maya’s Law. Politicians from every single constituency in the UK will have had a tragedy like Maya’s, so, to prevent any more of them, it’s surely a no-brainer to back Maya’s Law.

“We’re there at the debate to be the lived experience family to show people about what we’ve battled through.”

(Image: FAMILY)

The debate in Parliament’s Westminster Hall is expected to take place around 6pm. MPs will discuss, but not vote on, the petition.

MPs across the county last night tribute to the family’s tireless campaign as they vowed to back it in the Commons, while Gemma urged their counterparts across the country to “step up for all of the children who didn’t have a voice”.

Gemma and Rachael’s MP Liz Twist said: “The debate has come about due to the 110,000 people who signed the petition, and my role within this is to make sure that support is transcribed to the floor of the House, those supportive of the campaign deserve the strongest voice possible.

Liz Twist, MP for Blaydon and Consett (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“I’m in awe of the care, passion and determination of Gemma, Rachael and the whole Chappell Family.

“We must highlight the need for change and ensure everyone can learn through the tragic story of Maya. This debate serves as an opportunity to do just that.

Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy said: “To turn such unimaginable personal grief into a powerful movement for national change is nothing short of heroic.

“I’ve backed Maya’s family’s campaign since the start, and I will be proud to continue my support as we take this fight to the floor of the House of Commons.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness added: “I am fully in support of the campaign, and I signed the petition to Parliament myself.

“I will be following the parliamentary debate closely as an important next step towards changing the law.”

Little Maya when she was a baby (Image: FAMILY)

Inspired by Clare’s Law and Sarah’s Law, the family believe that the legislation would prevent “more and more children falling through the gaps in society”.

The government previously said it was prioritising its Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to “improve multi-agency information sharing, introduce a responsive family help system, and sharpen the child protection system”. But Gemma believes that Maya’s Law should be a standalone piece of legislation.

“We don’t believe Maya’s Law should be watered down,” Gemma added.

“While we understand that the government is prioritising another bill, we think there are gaps in that legislation.”

(Image: FAMILY)

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously vowed to “do everything we possibly can to support the family” and said he would be keeping “a very careful eye on” the debate.

On a visit to Walbottle Academy in Newcastle in February he said: “Can I again say how tragic this case is, and I pay tribute to all of those campaigning on this.

“I think it’s a really important case. I think it’s also important that the Secretary of State keeps meeting with the family to see what we can do because it is a tragic case, and I want to make sure we’ve done everything we possibly can to support the family.”

The family of murdered tot Star Hobson are also backing the campaign, saying the law must be brought in “to stop other children dying at the hands of abusers”.

Star was aged just 16 months when her mum’s partner Savannah Brockill murdered her in Keighley, West Yorkshire in 2020 when she suffered a fatal blow likened to the impact of a car crash. Star’s dad, grandparents, family friends, and other relatives made referrals to social services warning of Brockhill’s violent behaviour and unexplained bruising on the child, but cases were routinely opened and then closed. Brockhill was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years and Frankie Smith locked up for 12 years for allowing her daughter’s death.

Her great-grandmother Anita Smith said: “Maya’s Law must be the top priority for politicians and we hope that lots of MPs back Maya’s Law at the debate today.”

Gemma last night again paid tribute to Maya, calling her a “ray of sunshine” who “brought endless joy to our lives”

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“Maya was a child, not just a number. When things go to Parliament or debate, sometimes we hear these testimonies, but forget that these children exist,” she added.

“She had a love for life, despite having only been two years of age.

“She loved to go out to the park with her family and would always steal food off people’s plates. She loved her food.

(Image: FAMILY)

“Her life was cruelly cut short by a monstrous act, and a mother who turned a blind eye to this abuse.

“Dana will potentially be out of prison in four years and is free to live her life. Daymond could be out in 18 years, and yet, Maya won’t get to grow up, live her life, have a future. How is that fair?

“When James (Maya’s dad) spotted bruises on her arms and legs and flagged concerns, we felt powerless. Looking back now, we should have taken her away and kept her safe, and we’ll have to live with that for the rest of our lives.”

Michael Daymond (Image: CPS)

Dana Carr (Image: CPS)

Maya’s Law proposes four key changes:

• A Child Risk Disclosure Scheme (CRDS): letting families request risk history information about caregivers.
• Mandatory information sharing between police, health, and social care agencies.

• Stronger multi-agency protocols, especially in custody and unsupervised access cases.
• New safeguarding powers for professionals to raise alerts or trigger court action, even without an active investigation.