will lead a parliamentary debate on Wednesday
3rd March demanding the government urgently close a
loophole in the law that allows sexual offenders to groom and
exploit 16 and 17-year olds in their care with impunity.
The 2003 Sexual Offences Act currently prohibits individuals in
defined roles such as teachers or social workers from exploiting
their position. However, it does not include other adults with
similar influence, such as sports coaches or faith leaders,
leaving children in non-statutory settings vulnerable to abuse.
In 2019, the Ministry of Justice conducted a review into the law
and stated they should be able to announce next steps in May
2020. No announcement was forthcoming.
During the debate, Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, will
say: “Parents are right to expect the same legal
protections sending their child to a youth centre or religious
group as they would sending them to school. The Government must
act to close a legal loophole that allows adults in positions of
trust outside of a statutory setting to get away with abusing
teenagers.
Protecting children and young people from harm should be one
of the Governments top priorities. It’s clear from my work with
survivors and child protection specialists that robust
legislation needs to be in place to tackle the abhorrent abuse
happening right now.
I’ve repeatedly made it clear to the Government that this
legal loophole allows abusers to act with impunity. If the
Government is serious about showing zero tolerance to child
abuse, they must act to change the law.”
Andrew Fellowes, Associate Head of Policy and Public
Affairs, NSPCC, said: “Returning to extra-curricular
activities is an important step towards normality for young
people after an incredibly difficult year but doing the things
they love shouldn’t place them at risk of being groomed and taken
advantage of by the very people who are meant to be looking after
them.
Over the last three years, organisations from sport, faith
and voluntary sectors have been joined by voices from across the
political spectrum in calling for this to be addressed. Now it is
vital that the Government acts and finally closes the
loophole.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
-
will make these calls in a half-hour
Adjournment debate (an exchange between the MP and Minister) at
the end of parliamentary business on Wednesday 3rd
March.
- A Freedom of Information was commissioned by the NSPCC to
support their ‘Close the Loophole’ campaign. The request was sent
to all Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO) in England and
Wales (172 councils, of which 161 replied) to find out how many
cases were known about which related to sexual activity by a
person who was potentially in a Position of Trust with a 16 or 17
year old. Over the four-year period (2014-2018) a total of 653
cases were recorded, of which 495 recorded the position
concerned.
