Yvette Cooper has announced plans to introduce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse this year, with criminal sanctions for those who fail to comply. The move follows key recommendations from a seven-year inquiry into child abuse.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has revealed that individuals who fail to report or actively cover up child sexual abuse could face professional or criminal penalties under a new offence set to be introduced this year. The announcement forms part of the Crime and Policing Bill, expected this spring.
The proposed legislation aligns with one of 20 recommendations made by Professor Alexis Jay in her landmark seven-year Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which concluded in 2022. Among the key recommendations was a legal mandate for those in regulated roles or positions of trust to report abuse in specific circumstances, such as observing indicators of abuse or receiving disclosures from victims or perpetrators.
“We need to get to the truth.” — Chris Philp, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary
Chris Philp, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary, welcomed the initiative but urged the government to establish a national statutory public inquiry into child sexual abuse by grooming gangs. He argued that the IICSA’s scope had largely excluded grooming gang-related abuses, covering only six towns linked to the scandal.
“We need to get to the truth,” Philp told MPs, emphasizing the need for an inquiry with the power to compel witness testimony under oath. He warned that if the government refused to act, the Conservatives would push amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to force such an inquiry.
Cooper refrained from committing to a new inquiry, focusing instead on implementing recommendations from existing investigations. She emphasized plans to make grooming an aggravated factor in abuse sentencing and pledged to “overhaul” evidence-gathering processes for child sexual abuse cases.
Professor Jay, now chair of the Act on IICSA campaign group, urged ministers to adopt a “clear timeline” for implementing the inquiry’s recommendations. Cooper responded by stating that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips had convened a cross-government group to drive forward these changes, with timelines to be set after consultation with a victims and survivors panel.
Critics, however, remain skeptical. Maggie Oliver, a former Greater Manchester police detective, described the government’s actions as a “kneejerk reaction” to international scrutiny. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, she highlighted past failings in handling abuse cases and questioned the government’s commitment to long-term solutions.
The issue of grooming gangs has gained significant attention, fueled in part by comments from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who criticized UK politicians on social media. Musk accused Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips of being a “rape genocide apologist” and alleged that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was “complicit in the rape of Britain.”
In response, Starmer defended his record as Director of Public Prosecutions, highlighting that his tenure saw record prosecutions for child sexual abuse. He criticized political opponents for amplifying far-right rhetoric, saying, “What I won’t tolerate is politicians jumping on the bandwagon simply to get attention, tweeting and talking but not doing anything about it.”
The upcoming legislation represents a significant step in addressing child sexual abuse, with its success dependent on effective implementation and sustained political commitment.
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