
In the IICSA’s final report to government in 2022, review chair Alexis Jay recommended that that the UK government introduce legislation which places certain individuals under a statutory duty to report child sexual abuse about which they have received a disclosure or which they have witnessed themselves.
However, following a second public consultation on the plan, the Home Office has said it considers “referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (and professional regulators where applicable) to be a more appropriate outcome” than criminal penalties for those found to have failed to report concerns.
The government’s consultation response adds that any “individual who seeks to obstruct a reporter from carrying out their duty to report will face the prospect of up to seven years imprisonment”.
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