Member

However, although the amendment would remove barriers presented by the current offence, it would not broaden its applicability unnecessarily. I am concerned that were we to apply a duty to report child sexual abuse to our country’s professionals and volunteers working with children, where they were criminalised for failing to make a report or for inaction, this would actually deter people from working with children in the first place, and without people willing to work to support children, how can they protect them from and report child sexual abuse? That is why I do not support amendments proposed across the Committee that would attach criminal sanctions to the duty itself.