Some local authorities have already adopted protocols that require professionals to conduct personal assessments on all under-18s believed to be in sexual relationships, to share information about those relationships with others and to make police checks on young people and their partners.
The information commissioner is investigating complaints that the police will hold all enquiries that they receive about young people on "soft" intelligence files. And with no clear definition of "sexual", under the terms of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 any kind of activity that a reasonable person would consider to be sexual can be included, including kissing.
Practitioners are extremely concerned that the protocols may soon become government policy when it brings out the new version of the national guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children.
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