Mandatory reporting of child abuse could put more children at risk, warns Theresa May

Forcing teachers and other professionals to report child abuse suspicions or face prosecution could lead to fewer children being protected, Theresa May has said.

The Home Secretary confirmed to MPs in a debate in the House of Commons that the Government is looking at changing the law to bring in the mandatory reporting of suspicions of child abuse.

Mrs May denounced the “complete dereliction of duty” of Rotherham Council and the local police after a harrowing report detailed the grooming of at least 1,400 children and young people in the town over 16 years. She said that “the fear of being seen as racist” over tackling the perpetators, many of whom were Asian. She said the Government is considering launching an investigation into “institutionalised political correctness” in the wake of the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said last month that he was prepared to introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, a change in the law which has been backed by the NSPCC and Keir Starmer, a former Director of Public Prosecutions.

This would force a legal duty on institutions like hospitals, children's homes and boarding schools to report abuse.
However, Mrs May said today that she was concerned this change in the law could mean fewer children are protected because authorities were overwhelmed with reports of false claims of child abuse.

Mrs May was challenged over whether the Government should bring in mandatory reporting by Labour in a debate sparked by the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

Nems wrote:If you have a safe guarding issue then you have to act. If its not compulsory then it must be made so immediately.

Ben_Reilly wrote:That is insane. In the U.S. if you know about a crime but don't report it, that makes you an accessory to it.

Which, of course, makes many of us "technically" accessories, seeing as I, for example, didn't turn my neighbor's son over to the police when he offered to sell me weed ... but that's something I can live with. I couldn't live with knowledge of a kid being abused without going to the authorities; who could?

David wrote:

Nems wrote:If you have a safe guarding issue then you have to act. If its not compulsory then it must be made so immediately.

 Is it a bit like non assistance to a person in danger like in France Nems?

Ben_Reilly wrote:That is insane. In the U.S. if you know about a crime but don't report it, that makes you an accessory to it.

Which, of course, makes many of us "technically" accessories, seeing as I, for example, didn't turn my neighbor's son over to the police when he offered to sell me weed ... but that's something I can live with. I couldn't live with knowledge of a kid being abused without going to the authorities; who could?

captainJane wrote:Same old, same old. From what I can see, children are still being abused. Nothing in law or done by government in the past or today has ever seriously moved forward to protect them.

While past crimes are not openly dealt with the problem will continue!

veya_victaous wrote:Here Teachers Doctors and few others have a legal duty to report signs of Child abuse to Dept of Community Services (DOCS) then it is up to DOCS to decide if it warrants further investigation.
I don't think a Teacher that didn't report it would go to jail but they would be open to compensation lawsuit from victim because they failed in their 'duty of care'

Original Quill wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:That is insane. In the U.S. if you know about a crime but don't report it, that makes you an accessory to it.

Which, of course, makes many of us "technically" accessories, seeing as I, for example, didn't turn my neighbor's son over to the police when he offered to sell me weed ... but that's something I can live with. I couldn't live with knowledge of a kid being abused without going to the authorities; who could?

Lol...Erm..got your neighbor's kid's phone number, perchance Ben?

Just kidding!

Nems wrote:

David wrote:
 Is it a bit like non assistance to a person in danger like in France Nems?

I dont know David I think the French law applies to the public too doesnt it?
I thought this was more for professionals? Im not sure tbh.
At my work if  a safeguarding issue comes up you drop everything else to deal with it.
We always seem to get them at half four on a Friday