[5] There are times when the UK's four Commissioners come together to provide a stronger force for certain requests such as when the four united in making call for a national debate on fatherhood[6] They also submitted a joint report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Maggie Atkinson, then the Children's Commissioner for England, commented: "There now needs to be an ongoing dialogue between the government, through UK Borders Agency (UKBA), and stakeholders with a concern for this area of policy.

In this connection, the Committee observes in particular that the principle of the best interests of the child appears not to be reflected in legislation in such areas as health, education and social security which have a bearing on the respect for the rights of the child.The Committee's concluding observations in 2002 were also highly critical[13] and led to the Children and Young People's Unit taking on responsibility to co-ordinate the implementation of the Convention across the UK, but was subsequently disbanded in Autumn 2003.

The Convention therefore has the status of International Law, using the word "ensure" 32 times in the substantive body of provisions and is not derogated in any way.

After several tragedies and the murder of Victoria Climbié, the Laming report of January 2003 recommended creation of the post.

[15] Margaret Hodge, then the Children's Minister, won her battle to have five references to the word "rights" removed from the description of the role.

The third set of concluding observations in Autumn 2008 will indicate whether there is a need for a Children's Commissioner with 'teeth and hobnailed boots' in England, to herald the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Child.

[18] In 2015, the new Commissioner, Anne Longfield, was criticised for removing her Deputy, Sue Berelowitz, with an enhanced severance package, and then immediately hiring her back as a consultant.

The arrangement was subsequently cancelled as a result of media attention[19] and the organisation ordered to repay to HM Treasury £10,000 of misused public funds.