The Day Everything Changed

I’ll never forget the moment I learned of Jade Ward’s murder. It wasn’t just a headline, it was a seismic shock to our community in Shotton, Flintshire, and a very personal loss to me as I both knew and cared for this person who was about to become the subject of national interest.

Jade was a young mother of four, brutally killed by her estranged husband while her children slept nearby. The violence was unspeakable, the injustice unbearable. Yet, amid grief, something stirred in me, a resolve that this would not be the end of her story.

Writing Jade’s Law: A Promise to Her Children

In the months that followed, I worked alongside Jade’s family and legal advocates to draft what would become Jade’s Law. As its principal legal author, I poured every ounce of my experience and conviction into ensuring that no child or associated family member would again be forced to maintain ties with a parent who had murdered the other.

Despite the overwhelming public support for the petition calling for Jade’s Law, the government at the time opposed its implementation. It was a bitter pill to swallow, watching thousands rally behind justice, only to see the system resist change. The 130,000+ signatures to the petition garnered through social media and walking the streets passing out leaflets all for nothing, the petitioning exercise had failed! People around me exclaimed “We have failed” and “There is nothing else we can do”.

I refused to let that be the end. I continued to lobby, draft, and push, meeting with MPs, travelling to and from London, refining the legal framework, and working closely with Labour representatives (and MPs from other parties) who shared my vision. It was through that relentless persistence, and the backing of key allies in Parliament, and basically culminating in asking the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak “what would you do if you had to seek permission from the one who murdered your daughter how to care for her children?” that Jade’s Law was finally passed as part of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. The petition may not have achieved its goal directly, but it lit the fire, and I carried it forward until the law reflected the justice Jade deserved.

I never sought to gain public acknowledgement and/or credit for this achievement from the outset of this campaign, however, there have been many that have attempted to do such that, including elected MPs. This is why I am about to make the following statement:

It was I who envisioned Jades Law; it was I who wrote Jades Law; it was I who pursued it to the very end even when everyone else had given up. When I say everyone else, I mean everyone, including the Conservative Government, the Ministry of Justice, the political opposition (Labour Party), except for Jess Phillips and Ellie Reeves (who had been the very strongest advocates of the legislative change from the start, even though their attempts had consistently run into a “brick wall” at every attempt), that said they still failed in their attempts to “win” the debate in any change which favoured legislation towards “Jades Law”.

Through my persistence and general tenacity, I alone, persuaded the Conservative Government to change its mind, to change the law, and ultimately include Jades Law in future legislation.

The law, now enshrined in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, automatically suspends parental rights in such cases. It’s a victory for justice, but more than that, it’s a promise kept to Jade’s children.

The whole story will be revealed in my book “Jade” which is due for publication soon (date at publishers' discretion).

A Natural Progression: From Domestic Violence to Knife Crime Advocacy

Jade’s murder was a domestic violence case, yes, she was strangled, asphyxiated, a horrific death, but a weapon was also used not only in the attack, but then used to disfigure her beauty, a knife. That single detail became a turning point in my own advocacy. I began to see how knife crime wasn’t just a symptom of broken homes or gang culture, it was a national epidemic, cutting across demographics and communities. My work evolved naturally from legislative reform to frontline education and prevention.

Since the Jades Law campaign, I have continued future campaigns like Brave Voices and Breaking the Chain, I’ve tried to give voice to those silenced by violence. My book, Breaking the Chain: Your Life, Choice & Future, is now published and available to order ( PayPal ). It’s a resource built from years of research, reflection, and lived experience, designed to help young people understand the realities and root causes of knife crime.

TRACK Protocol and Community Empowerment

One of my proudest contributions is the development of the TRACK first aid protocol, a practical system for responding to knife-related incidents (TRACK: A simple way to assist a stab victim.) It’s now embedded in curriculum packs and community safety programs which is available across the UK. I’ve also produced educational videos, memorial presentations, and digital resources to ensure that remembrance and resilience go hand in hand.

Jade’s Legacy Lives On

Jade Ward’s legacy is not confined to a courtroom or a statute. It lives on in every person I speak to, and every city I visit. Her story has become a catalyst for change, sparking conversations about justice, safety, and healing.

I was humbled to be shortlisted for the Best Awareness Campaign at the True Crime Awards in London earlier this year. But awards aren’t the goal. The goal is impact. The goal is to make sure no other family suffers what Jade’s did.

Together, We Can Make a Difference

I believe in dignity, fairness, and the power of grassroots action. My website says it best: “We must make a stand. We must seek justice. Together we can make a difference.” That’s not just a slogan; it has become my life’s endeavour.

If you’re reading this and wondering how to help, I invite you to join me. Volunteer, donate, share the message. Because every voice matters. And every life lost to knife crime deserves remembrance, justice, and change.

Please read through this website to find out more about the work I and my dedicated team are doing. Also please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel: Edwin Duggan, Facebook page EdwinDuggan.co.uk and other social network platforms such as Instagram, Linkedin, TikTok, and Truth. All these subscriptions help to promote the awareness of the campaign to reduce the impact and overall suffering of knife crime not only in the UK but worldwide.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Edwin Duggan LLB(Hons)

Published 26th August 2025