UK ‘protects money more than children’ amid push for sexual abuse reporting law
Share:
The UK “has protected money in ways that it has not protected children”, it was claimed in Parliament, amid a push for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. A proposed new law would require those who work with children, such as in a school, care home or sports club, to report known or suspected child sexual abuse to the local authorities.
Independent crossbench peer Baroness Grey-Thompson, who introduced the Bill in the House of Lords on Friday, said there have been mandatory reporting laws for money laundering for 23 years. She said: “As legislators, one of our roles is to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“Protecting children from sexual abuse should therefore be of the highest priority. “We must continue to learn from past mistakes and, whilst we cannot say that child sexual abuse will stop with this Bill, stricter legislation on reporting will give those children stronger protections than they currently have.
“A well-designed mandatory reporting law is a key component of an effective safeguarding system. This is about how we protect more of our children as we go forward.”. She added: “It is slightly ironic that the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 introduced mandatory reporting for money laundering under the regulated sector.
“So for the past 23 years, this country has protected money in ways that it has not protected our children. “Our system is failing the victims of child sexual abuse and changes need to be made.”. Mandatory reporting was a key recommendation that emerged from the 2022 report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
