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Having met Mr Gove on 27th February 14 and presented the case for Mandatory Reporting, Tom returned to Portcullis House and met with Tom Watson MP to discuss the importance of this legislation to a functioning child (and vulnerable adult) protection system.

Seven weeks later in topical questions to the Secretary of State for Education, Tom Watson asked about research into mandatory reporting which elicited a very positive reply from Mr Gove about the principle of mandatory reporting in Regulated Activities.

You can see Mr Gove’s reply here and this Times article appeared following their exchange in the House.

Just a few days after the sentencing of Peter Wright, the former Headmaster of Caldicott School, at Amersham Crown Court on 6/2/14, Cheryl Gillan MP secures a meeting between Tom and the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove. Hansard: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-02-10b.555.5#g560.6

Under increasing pressure from our sustained campaign for the introduction of Mandatory Reporting the NSPCC felt the need to clarify its firmly held position against mandatory reporting which you can see here. 

CEOP Thematic Assessment  The Foundations of Abuse | Paragraph 87 : It may be necessary to ensure those working in any capacity in institutional settings come forward around safeguarding issues via some form of mandatory reporting.

The Home Affairs Committee report: Child Sexual Exploitation and Grooming Report suggested  Mandatory Reporting be considered – Paragraph 130:

‘We recommend that the Government commission work to examine the feasibility of introducing a  statutory duty to co-operate and share information to tackle child sexual exploitation. We also recommend that the Government examine the Florida Protection of Vulnerable Persons Act passed in 2012 in order to ascertain whether the mandatory reporting of child abuse could, and should, be implemented in England and Wales.’

You can read the full report here.

The Government did not undertake a feasibility, instead it undertook a public consultation which was designed to achieve one outcome – rejection of MR by respondents. which it achieved.

Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary – in its report ‘Mistakes Were Made’ suggested Mandatory Reporting should be considered in recommendation 3: ‘We consider that a system of mandatory reporting should be examined whereby those who, in the course of their professional duties, become aware of information or evidence that a child is or has been the victim of abuse should be under a legal obligation to notify their concerns to others.’