Regulated and Other Activities (Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 9 of 2024–25

Baroness Grey-Thompson has explained that her bill seeks to implement a recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) that the government should introduce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse:

A key finding of the IICSA was that suspected and even known child sex abuse is grossly under-reported in this country. The UK is one of a small minority of jurisdictions worldwide that does not have some form of mandatory reporting (MR) for suspected child sex abuse, and IICSA has recommended that MR be introduced here. This bill implements the IICSA recommendation and is a synthesis of the best MR practice worldwide. It will encourage prompt reporting of child sex abuse by those in a position of trust working with children, which will help catch abusers sooner before they have an opportunity to abuse many victims. The bill will also protect those who report in good faith from any retaliation by those who would prioritise the maintenance of institutional reputation over the welfare of children.

The previous Conservative government tabled amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to implement a mandatory reporting requirement. The amendments did not progress before the dissolution of Parliament for the 2024 general election. The new Labour government has recently announced an intention to introduce mandatory reporting in the upcoming crime and policing bill, expected to be introduced in the spring. This briefing focuses on the provisions of the private member’s bill and the issue of the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse.