NEWS

/NEWS/
16 07, 2022

Index of News Articles

July 16th, 2022|

UPDATE: On 16 July 2022 we updated our proposal for the introduction of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse.  A few days later Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson tabled it in her Private Members Bill.  Lady Grey-Thompson’s bill would have had a significant positive impact on institutional safeguarding unlike the lamentable IICSA final report recommendation of 20.10.22.   

 

Index of News Articles

Home Office "MR" consultation #2. It's not MR!23/11/23
IICSA’s final report first anniversary - government is looking on and doing little18/10/23
Private Eye news 8.9.23 – Letby and observations about mandatory reporting08/09/2023
Scotsman article 31.7.23 - Mandatory reporting laws of child sexual abuse on the table31/07/23
Our submission to the Home Office consultation: Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse17/07/2023
“The mountain hath laboured and brought forth a mouse.” The Government Response to IICSA 22.5.2322/05/23
Here are the 779 submissions made to the 2016 ‘Reporting and Acting on Child Abuse and Neglect’ consultation. Councils, Royal College’s healthcare, education, faith, NGO’s and similar31/01/2020
The hope offered in the Home Secs Statement to HoC on 4/2/15 has been replaced by a bunker mindset at IICSA30/10/2015
Yvette Cooper calls for change to law after abuse scandal30/08/2014
House of Lords 28.10.14 | Serious Crimes Bill Amendment 43 [ Mandatory Reporting ] – Report 2nd Day29/10/2014
Surrey Police Operation Outreach Report – Activities of Savile at Duncroft School | At least 22 Pupils Abused29/04/2015
It’s inconceivable IICSA will not recommend well-designed Mandatory Reporting. But must we wait until 2021?28/12/2019
CSAInquiry : INDEPENDENT PANEL INQUIRY INTO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE | Panel Statement | November 26 201428/11/2014
Sir Keir Starmer former DPP – “the case for mandatory reporting of #CSA is now overwhelming”28/08/2014
‘Detriment’ can be experienced by staff who report child abuse. Our updated legislative proposal addresses it28/02/2022
Abuse in Football – that sofa on VictoriaLIVE and the positive impact It could have on safeguarding27/11/2016
Stanbridge Earls School: the saga continues. Ofsted got it repeatedly wrong, now the Charity Commission. Who next?27/10/2015
Mandate Now Submission to Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse – #MRseminar (1) 27/9/1827/09/2018
A Confused NSPCC statement on BBC r4 Today Programme 9/7/14 about Mandatory Reporting27/08/2014
Department of Health Report (Savile) Kate Lampard27/06/2014
Ideology stops government introducing well-designed Mandatory Reporting27/03/2023
The impact of poorly designed mandatory reporting is far-reaching27/03/2023
Recent Coverage Media Contributions around The Disappointing DoH Lampard Review Published on 26/2/1527/02/2015
Lawn Tennis Association Safeguarding remains dysfunctional 27/01/2019
NSPCC – ‘The Dog Ate My Transcript’: the very odd occurrences following a debate on #MandatoryReporting27/01/2015
HoC Briefing Paper | ‘Child Protection: duties to report concerns’ | Our critical review of a flawed document26/10/2021
Hear no evil, see no evil: observations on a paper presented by Prof Munro and Dr Fish to CA Royal Commission26/10/2015
House of Lords 28.10.14 | Serious Crimes Bill Amendment 43 [ Mandatory Reporting ] – Report 2nd Day26/10/2014
Review of Option 2 of MR Consult: Introduce a Mandatory Reporting Duty in Relation to Child Abuse26/09/2016
Department of Health release the report by Lampard – BBC interview (Savile abuses) 26/06/2014
Alternative Perspective on NSPCC – closing ‘Loopholes in Sport’ VictoriaLIVE 26.1.1726/01/2017
Mandate Now Review of : Summary of consultation responses and Government action following #MRconsult25/09/2018
Cardinal Vincent Nichols r4Sunday 21/4/19. Child abuse – a straight answer to a straight question is outside the Cardinal’s repertoire25/04/2019
Update – IICSA / CA Royal Comm data comparison24/12/2018
The Impending Mandatory Reporting Consultation; the dynamics RA abuse and NSPCC understanding of it24/10/2015
Mandatory reporting laws for child sexual abuse are essential for kids and society: Professor Ben Mathews24/03/2017
Tom Watson MP questions Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove about Mandatory Reporting24/03/2014
Michael Gove : ‘Victim of abuse made a ‘compelling’ case for mandatory reporting’24/03/2014
No Reliance can be Placed on a Report Used by Academics and others to Dismiss Mandatory Reporting – here’s why23/11/2015
MandateNow response to an @Barnardos statement on Mandatory Reporting of 18th September 201423/09/2014
Spectator article Against Mandatory Reporting: A Blizzard of Ill-informed Comment23/06/2016
HoC debate on NC 17 Opposition Amendment to introduce alleged #MandatoryReporting23/02/2015
Two research papers on #MRCA by Dr Ben Mathews of QUT with one stemming from @CARoyalComm Australia | #CSAinquiry22/11/2014
Letter to IICSA from multiple signatories following the presentation by the Department for Education to the MR Seminar (1) 27.9.1822/10/2018
Remaining silent about child abuse can’t be an option – Times Scotland 21.9.1922/08/2019
How much does Barnardo’s really care for vulnerable children? | Why did it sign an Independent Advocacy Contract with the Youth Justice Board at Medway in which it agreed to not refer child protection concerns to Local Authority?22/02/2019
The Labour #MR amendment to the Serious Crimes Bill is debated tomorrow. @SkyNews interview22/02/2015
Mothers of Prevention | Organised Child Sexual Exploitation – Sunday Times Magazine 30/9/07 by Julie Bindel21/08/2018
Mandate Now’s model for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse used in Private Members Bill21/07/2022
Review of : “The Scale and nature of child abuse” by The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse | Its value is limited21/07/2021
#MR Bill Underway for USA Athletes following Senate Hearing and Grey-Thompson Now Wants It21/04/2017
The cut n’ paste safeguarding policy at Crewe Alexandra Football Club needs to be scrapped. Here’s why21/03/2019
The Labour opposition amendment to the Serious Crimes Bill designed to allegedly introduce #MandatoryReporting – Doesn’t.21/02/2015
BBC Child Protection Policy. Perfectly Legal but Useless21/01/2016
Mandate Now and NSPCC met on 29/6/15 to explore our Contrasting Positions on Mandatory Reporting20/07/2015
Key Speeches from HoL Debate 15.12.16 : Allegations of child sexual abuse within football clubs19/12/2016
Where is the MR seminar IICSA? A letter sent 19/4/18 from lawyers acting for Core Participant abusees to Professor Jay19/04/2018
The Chair of the National Safeguarding Panel @churchofengland attempting to sell a counterfeit suggestion that mandatory reporting exists within the Church.19/03/2019
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse: Malcolm Underhill Speaks to Tom Perry of Mandate Now19/01/2016
Letter from Mandate Now to the @UKHomeOffice 7/2/15 regarding the ToRs and Scope of the #CSAinquiry18/02/2015
IICSA final report 20.10.22 – a flurry of pulled punches16/11/2022
CEOP Thematic Assessment The Foundations of Abuse: A thematic assessment of the risk of CSA by adults in institutions16/10/2013
Addenbrooke’s Hospital – Dr Myles Bradbury16/09/2014
Update to our legislative proposal for Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual abuse by Regulated Activities [16.07.2022]16/07/2022
Article in Community Care Magazine about Mandatory Reporting and the Whereabouts of the Consultation16/07/2016
A Lengthening List of Independent Schools Confused over Child Protection16/03/2016
‘The Church has some form of Mandatory Reporting’ (Peter Hancock – Lead Bishop for Safeguarding) | “Oh no it hasn’t!”16/01/2020
Confused Football Association safeguarding policy fails children15/12/2016
The Whyte Review – some considerations 15/10/2020
Where is the outcome of the Consultation – Reporting and Acting on Child Abuse and Neglect15/09/2017
SERIOUS CRIMES BILL 3rd Day15/07/2014
IICSA Seminar 12.04.17 was Misinformed About Mandatory Reporting by UCLAN Assessment15/05/2017
Govt Secures NSPCC Support for Child Protection Proposal Designed to Fail14/11/2016
Mandate Now has updated its legislative proposal to: mandatory reporting of known and suspected child sexual abuse14/05/2022
Still no reliance can be placed on Stoke Mandeville Child Protection Procedures despite #Savile + Salmon #CSAinquiry14/02/2015
MandateNow response to @NSPCC July policy briefing: Strengthening duties on professionals to report child abuse13/09/2014
Is safeguarding in sport fit for purpose? Our written submission to the House of Lords Sport and Recreation Committee13/06/2021
Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel (VSCP) – what is it for?13/04/2015
NSPCC Whistling Home Office Tune to Child Protection Inertia13/02/2015
The Mandate Now Response to: NSPCC policy position against Mandatory Reporting13/01/2014
NSPCC Statement about Mandatory Reporting on the r4Today programme13/01/2014
IICSA’s final report recommendations fail to address its own reasoning06/02/2023
IICSA’s Final Report is in error on several matters of law06/02/2023
Mandate Now has updated its legislative proposal to: mandatory reporting of known and suspected child sexual abuse only06/04/2022
Boarding Schools’ Association says it wants Mandatory Reporting. (as long as it doesn’t work)08/05/2021
Home Office: Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy 2021 | No strategy, few proposals and little money05/10/2021
Scotland : Child abuse victims are still going undetected  || Yet Scottish academics still mistakenly reject mandatory reporting11/11/2020
Mandate Now observations on Law in Sport article about mandatory reporting for sport03/08/2020
IICSA Anglican Hearing 3/7/19 – Observation about the work being undertaken by the Social Care Institute of Excellence for the Church of England10/07/2019
The Disclosure and Barring Service isn’t working reliably. How are unmade ‘mandatory’ referrals to the DBS discovered?10/06/2019
Top 10 Myths About Clergy Abuse in the Catholic Church (Psychology Today) 1/8/19 and a reply from Tim Lennon the President of SNAP
04/08/2019
Oral question 1. HoL 10/9/18 : Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse regarding safeguarding failures at Downside and Ampleforth schools11/09/2018
Mysterious Omissions from the IICSA Report into Ampleforth and Downside10/08/2018
Mandatory Reporting Consultation : Government decides on costly retention of the failing status quo06/03/2018
Church of England Safeguarding is Dysfunctional and Can Have No Reliance Placed Upon It | A Review by Mandate Now02/03/2018
Child Protection in Football – An article in The Independent reliant on hearsay and hope06/03/2017
IICSA Chair responds to stinging Times article with a flurry of meaningless statistics03/11/2017
Australian Royal Commission data comparison with Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse03/11/2017
Bishop of Bath + Wells Faces a Morton’s Fork over MR. CofE Imagineers Attempt to Conceal ‘U’ Turn02/05/2017
West Berks SCB – The Unconvincing Serious Case Review into Child Sexual Abuse at Kennet School01/02/2017
Consultation on mandatory reporting of child abuse ‘has been buried’ | Observer 4.09.1609/09/2016
Mandatory Reporting of Known and Suspected Abuse: Guardian and Observer Articles June 201608/06/2016
A Review of: MR law on reporting and identification of CSA: A seven year time trend analysis08/06/2016
Are These the Official Spokespeople for IICSA?07/09/2016
Mandate Now Submission to Consultation: Reporting and Acting on Child Abuse and Neglect06/10/2016
Labour Party Submission to MRconsult. Good Objectives but Muddled Thinking05/12/2016
Signs the Government is increasingly panicked over calls for the introduction of Mandatory Reporting – #FAabuse04/12/2016
Mandatory reporting laws for child sexual abuse are essential for kids and society: Professor Ben Mathews03/09/2016
New Research: Impact of Mandatory Reporting Law : A Seven year Longitudinal Analysis03/05/2016
MN Response to Option 3 of MR Consult: Duty to Act in relation to child abuse and neglect02/10/2016
Mandate Now: Putting the spotlight on UK child abuse01/02/2016
Letters in Support of Bishop Peter Ball Make Extraordinary Reading. Here in Full01/01/2016
Regulated Activities are petri dishes for abuse – Mandate Now on preventing child abuse scandals09/03/2015
Prime Ministers reaction to Oxford #CSE report – law for Wilful Neglect. It’s inadequate as #MN explains on #bbcpm03/03/2015
More than 200,000 people call for mandatory reporting of child abuse.02/12/2015
Mandatory Reporting Laws and the Identification of Severe Child Abuse and Neglect02/06/2015
Successive Govts Flee Mandatory Reporting on the Mistaken Grounds of Cost02/03/2015
The civil service dominated #IICSA : still not communicating despite representations01/10/2015
Child abuse needs mandatory reporting to create a high-risk environment for paedophiles: Independent March 201501/03/2015
Whatever happened to the @NSPCC? It wanted to talk, then on receiving the draft agenda fell silent.12/07/2014
Cheryl Gillan MP secures a meeting with for MandateNow with Michael Gove10/02/2014
Iain Dale @LBC to Harriet Harman: would you back a statutory inquiry? Erm ….. She then adopts the flawed Home Office position09/12/2014
Queens Speech debate House of Lords 3rd Day - Mandatory Reporting 09/06/2014
Baroness Walmsley in her debate on : Children and Vulnerable Adult Abuse08/07/2014
Ian Lee of BBC Three Counties Radio discusses the Wright trial (Caldicott School) with Tom Perry07/02/2014
MandateNow speaks with James O’Brien of @LBC Mandatory Reporting, child protection, and the state of the #CSAinquiry06/11/2014
Caldicott School - Trials and Outcomes06/02/2014
This is probably the most difficult speech I have ever made | Tackling Child Abuse | Best speech LD Conference 201505/10/2014
Baroness Walmsley’s Policy debate for introduction of Mandatory Reporting is approved at Lib Dem Conference05/10/2014
Cheryl Gillan MP (C) – Today raised key questions about #CSAinquiry in Topical Questions to the Leader of the House04/12/2014
Debate on the Address – [1st day] | Cheryl Gillan MP – Mandatory Reporting04/06/2014
HMIC’s review into allegations and intelligence material concerning Jimmy Savile 1964 and 201211/03/2013
Home Affairs Committee: CSE and the response to localised grooming10/06/2013
23 11, 2023

Home Office “MR” consultation #2. It’s not MR!

November 23rd, 2023|

The Home Office has finally revealed its thinking in this low-profile month long consultation from the 4th November until 30th November 2023.

The consultation makes proposals that, even according to the Home Office’s own impact statement, will deliver no improvement to safeguarding and importantly for the Government it seems, no discernible increase in referrals to the statutory agencies. The Home Office claims its proposal is “mandatory reporting” when in fact it is nothing of the sort. The claim eases the Government’s ability to sell it to a subject naïve public and assert it has fulfilled one of the key recommendations of the IICSA public inquiry.

Our submission to the consultation, redacted of personal details, is available here in .pdf format.

Our submission to the consultation, redacted of personal details, is available here in .docx.

Here is an extract from our submission:

As a consequence, it appears that government is prepared to leave abused children to their fate rather than take action that would lead to more crimes of child sexual abuse coming to the attention of the authorities.

This Home Office approach to safeguarding children is strikingly similar to this recent allegation made in the Covid inquiry:

A screenshot of a black and white website Description automatically generated

 

Here is a highlighted note which shows the difference between IICSA’s lamentable recommendation 13, for what it asserted was mandatory reporting, and the dreadful proposal made by the Home Office. 

23 11, 2023

The key difference between IICSA’s Recommendation 13 and the Home Office proposal

November 23rd, 2023|

The key difference between IICSA’s Recommendation 13 and the Home Office proposal (see further down) is marked in red in both cases. It is this difference which means that (whatever they might choose to call it) the Home Office proposal is not mandatory reporting.

IICSA’s Recommendation 13

Recommendation 13: Mandatory reporting

The Inquiry recommends that the UK government and Welsh Government introduce legislation which places certain individuals – ‘mandated reporters’ – under a statutory duty to report child sexual abuse where they:

  • receive a disclosure of child sexual abuse from a child or perpetrator; or
  • witness a child being sexually abused; or
  • observe recognised indicators of child sexual abuse.

The following persons should be designated ‘mandated reporters’:

  • any person working in regulated activity in relation to children (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended);
  • any person working in a position of trust (as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as amended); and
  • police officers.

For the purposes of mandatory reporting, ‘child sexual abuse’ should be interpreted as any act that would be an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where the alleged victim is a child under the age of 18.

Where the child is aged between 13 and under 16 years old, a report need not be made where the mandated reporter reasonably believes that:

  • the relationship between the parties is consensual and not intimidatory, exploitative or coercive; and
  • the child has not been harmed and is not at risk of being harmed; and
  • there is no material difference in capacity or maturity between the parties engaged in the sexual activity concerned, and there is a difference in age of no more than three years.

These exceptions should not, however, apply where the alleged perpetrator is in a position of trust within the meaning of the 2003 Act.

Where the child is under the age of 13, a report must always be made.

Reports should be made to either local authority children’s social care or the police as soon as is practicable.

It should be a criminal offence for mandated reporters to fail to report child sexual abuse where they:

  • are in receipt of a disclosure of child sexual abuse from a child or perpetrator; or
  • witness a child being sexually abused.

 

Home office Proposal

Who the duty should apply to

1. The duty should apply to any person undertaking regulated activity in relation to children (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended) and any person in a role considered relevant to the duty. A list of these roles will be set out in due course.

2. Organisations which engage with children through the above categories should notify relevant individuals of their responsibilities under the duty.

What should be reported

3. Those subject to the duty must make a report when, in the course of undertaking regulated activity or one of the specified roles, they receive a disclosure of child sexual abuse from a child or perpetrator; or personally witness a child being sexually abused. The duty will not apply outside of the relevant activity or role, though in all cases best practice and / or relevant guidance on reporting concerns should be followed.

For the purposes of the duty, ‘child sexual abuse’ should be interpreted as any act that would be an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where the alleged victim was under the age of 18 at the time the abuse occurred; and ‘witnessing’ child sexual abuse should include viewing indecent images of children.

A report will not need to be made under the duty if those involved are between 13 and 16 years old, the relationship between them is consensual and there is no risk of harm present.

Process for reports

4. Reports should be made to either local authority children’s services or the police as soon as reasonably practicable.

Territorial extent of the duty

5. The territorial extent of the duty to report is England only. Subject to the conditions of point 3 (above), abuse which relates to a child normally resident in other jurisdictions will be reported under the duty, though the subsequent action taken may follow different processes.

Consequences of breaching the duty to report

6. Breaches of the duty to report will be subject to referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service for barring consideration using existing arrangements under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. Barring decisions will take account of representations made by the individual.

7. All regulated professionals and teachers who are subject to the duty, including those working in private education and healthcare settings, will also be at a minimum subject to professional sanctions to be determined by the appropriate regulating body.

Preventing reports from being made

8. Anyone who obstructs or delays a mandated reporter from making a report under the mandatory reporting duty (or attempts to do so), for example through destroying or hiding evidence; applying pressure, threats, bribes or blackmail will be guilty of a criminal offence, which will be included on the list of automatic barring offences. As a result, all convictions will result in a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS); barring decisions will take account of representations made by the individual.

Exemptions

9. As above (point 3), a report will not need to be made under the duty if those involved are between 13 and 16 years old, the relationship between them is consensual and there is no risk of harm present.

Protections for reporters

10. The duty will set out that individuals are protected from any repercussions by their employer or wider organisation as a result of a making a report in good faith; or alerting appropriate authorities that a report which should have been made under the duty has been withheld.

11. We will also set out that reports made under the duty do not breach any obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or any other restriction on the disclosure of information.

Provided Mandate Now 22.11.23

 

18 10, 2023

IICSA’s final report first anniversary – government is looking on and doing little

October 18th, 2023|

IICSA’s final report first anniversary – the government is looking on and doing little

October 20th, 2023, brings the first anniversary of the publication of IICSA’s final report. The publication date coincided with the resignation of Liz Truss. As a result, it was largely wiped from media reporting on the day.

To mark this first anniversary, we have undertaken a review the Government’s progress on the recommendations in the last twelve months. (more…)

7 09, 2023

Private Eye News 8.9.23 – Letby and observations about mandatory reporting

September 7th, 2023|

The Government baulks at introducing law that requires personnel in prescribed professions to report known and suspected child sexual abuse to the statutory authorities. The reasons have nothing to do with protecting children and a great deal to do with protecting the dysfunctional safeguarding framework.

(more…)

11 08, 2023

The Scotsman 31.7.23 – Mandatory reporting laws of child sexual abuse on the table

August 11th, 2023|

(more…)

17 07, 2023

Our submission to the Home Office consultation: Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse

July 17th, 2023|

Here is the Home Office consultation link : Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. 

The consultation closes 14 August 2023

Our evidenced submission is here . Our responses start on page 15.

 

23 05, 2023

“The mountain hath laboured and brought forth a mouse.” The Government Response to IICSA 22.5.23

May 23rd, 2023|

That is the essence of today’s statement by Home Secretary Suella Braverman giving the Government’s response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. The report was seven years in the making. On the day it was published, the then Home Secretary Grant Shapps promised that “the government will respond in full to the inquiry’s report within six months”. The government missed that deadline by just over a month, and Shapps’ predecessor and successor Suella Braverman perhaps didn’t feel all that inclined to honour a promise made by someone who was Home Secretary for six whole days. (more…)

27 03, 2023

Ideology stops government introducing well-designed Mandatory Reporting

March 27th, 2023|

Occam’s razor leads us to reach this conclusion. For example, the questionnaire in the 2016 consultation “Reporting and Acting on Child Abuse and Neglect”, together with its accompanying commentary revealed the government’s mindset. Here is how on the last day of parliament, the Home Office media department used the press to strike fear into anyone working in institutions with responsibility for children.

Click on the image to view the article

Nick Ferrari, the LBC breakfast presenter, excitedly told his audience “a school secretary could be jailed for not reporting suspected abuse.” (more…)

27 03, 2023

The impact of poorly designed mandatory reporting is far-reaching

March 27th, 2023|

In the USA two pressure groups are seeking to get their respective State Governments, Pennsylvania and New York City, to scrap their poorly designed versions of mandatory reporting of ‘child abuse’.

We sympathise, with the significant exception of Mandatory Reporting of known and suspected child sexual abuse, on reasonable grounds. Mandatory reporting for CSA has not been revoked in any jurisdiction in the world, indeed many jurisdictions have strengthened and extended the law to more professionals, Switzerland being just one; Western Australia is another even more recent example. Data and empirical evidence demonstrate MR of child sexual abuse by prescribed professionals is a vital component of functioning safeguarding for institutional settings (known in the UK as ‘Regulated Activities’). These key personnel also have a vitally important ‘sentinel’ role of safeguarding children who may be abused in the family or elsewhere.

Here are two articles featuring the campaigns of both US jurisdictions. (more…)

6 02, 2023

IICSA’s final report recommendations fail to address its own reasoning

February 6th, 2023|

IICSA’s recommendation for mandatory reporting makes little sense. It is also contrary to the evidence and reasoning the inquiry includes in its own report.

This article is a summary of the detailed: Mandate Now two column review of the key recommendations made in the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.  

Deserving of its own article is this: IICSA’s seeming misunderstandings of law contained in its final report. 

(more…)