Health professionals are at odds with the police over their interpretation of new guidelines on the reporting of underage sex.

Last week, the Department for Education and Skills published itslong-awaited guidance on the controversial topic. The guidance statesthat in cases of sex involving under-13s there should be "a presumption"that children's social care, police and other relevant agencies shouldbe involved. "All cases involving under-13s should be fully documentedincluding detailed reasons where a decision is taken not to shareinformation," it adds.

Anne Weyman, chief executive of the sexual health charity fpa, said: "Wewelcome the fact that the guidance does not advise automatic reportingto the police. Confidentiality is the key factor enabling young peopleto ask for advice about their sexual health."

The fpa also believes the guidance will force the London ChildProtection Committee to change its protocol, which requires cases ofsexually active young people under 13 to be detailed to police.

But the Metropolitan Police has told Children Now that the guidance isnot at odds with London's policy. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Angus,from the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse Investigation Command, said:"I don't think there's a conflict. The general thrust of the guidance isthat where there is sexual activity, particularly penetrative sexinvolving under-13s, then the presumption is this should bereported."

He said the use of the word "presumption" was useful as previousguidance had put too heavy a focus on confidentiality.

The guidance has a checklist professionals must use to assess whether achild is at risk of harm and, therefore, whether they need to shareinformation. This includes "whether the sexual partner is known by oneof the agencies".

Angus said: "There is a clear message that the person doing theassessment has a responsibility to check with other agencies, includingthe police, whether the person is known to them."

- www.everychildmatters.gov.uk.