Overview

This bill mandates reporting of known or suspected child sexual abuse by individuals and organizations involved in various activities with children in England and Wales. It aims to improve child protection by creating a legal obligation to report such abuse and protect those who do so from retribution.

Description

The bill makes it mandatory for those providing specified activities (detailed in the Schedule) involving children to report known or suspected child sexual abuse to designated authorities (e.g., Local Authority Designated Officer or Children's Services). This applies regardless of whether the abuse occurred within the setting of the activity. The definition of "in care of" varies depending on the role of the individual reporting. Those making reports in good faith are protected from legal or professional repercussions. The bill also creates criminal offenses for failing to report and for retaliating against those who do. The Secretary of State can issue exemptions or temporarily suspend reporting duties in exceptional circumstances where it's deemed to be in the child's best interest.

Activities Covered:

The Schedule includes a broad range of activities, encompassing education, healthcare, childcare, social care, youth services, religious organizations, and more. Specifically this includes schools, hospitals, nurseries, children's homes, sports clubs, and religious institutions among others.

Penalties:

Failure to report is punishable by a level 5 fine, while retaliating against a reporter is punishable by a level 4 fine.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. However, implementation will likely involve costs associated with training, information dissemination, and potentially increased workload for designated reporting officers. No figures are provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Individuals and Organizations working with children: These groups will be legally obligated to report suspected child sexual abuse, potentially increasing their workload and responsibilities. They will also be afforded legal protection from retribution for reporting.
• Children: The bill aims to protect children by improving the reporting and handling of child sexual abuse cases.
• Local Authorities: Local authorities will be responsible for receiving and processing reports, potentially increasing their workload.
• Law Enforcement: Law enforcement may see an increase in the number of reported cases.

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