SARAH CHAMPION MP DELIGHTED AS GOVERNMENT FINALLY AGREES TO HER LEGAL CHANGES TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE

After years of campaigning on the issue, Sarah Champion MP has expressed delight at the Government announcement that they plan to make it illegal for faith leaders and sports coaches to have sex with 16- and 17- year olds in their care.

The Ministry of Justice has announced that the Positions of Trust law, which currently applies to roles like teachers and social workers, will be extended as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to be unveiled in Parliament today (March 9).

Commenting on the announcement, Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham said:

“I can’t express how relieved I am that the Government have finally closed the loophole that allowed abusers to exploit 16 and 17 year olds with impunity. Knowing that this legal failing existed, but being unable to get the Government to address it for years, has been hugely stressful as I knew it was putting children at risk

I’m delighted the Government have finally listened to the persistent campaigning of survivors, MPs, Peers and Charities. I pay particular tribute to Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Tracey Crouch MP who have fought for years to make sure sports coaches can’t abuse those in their care.

Preventing child abuse must be one of society’s top priorities and while these changes are long overdue, they will undoubtedly play a vital role in protecting children from the horrors of grooming and sexual exploitation.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

·        Sarah Champion MP is Founding Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Safeguarding in Faith Settings. In January 2020, the group published a report calling for the Government to close the loophole in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. More information available here: https://thirtyoneeight.org/about-us/all-party-parliamentary-group/appg/pot-report-launch/

·        On Wednesday 3rd March, Sarah Champion MP led a debate calling for the government to close the loophole. The debate is available here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-03-03/debates/4F8C4C6E-26C7-4284-8F9D-2F5A964308B6/SexualOffencesAct2003PositionsOfTrust

·        A Freedom of Information was commissioned by the NSPCC to support their ‘Close the Loophole’ campaign. The request was sent to all Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO) in England and Wales (172 councils, of which 161 replied) to find out how many cases were known about which related to sexual activity by a person who was potentially in a Position of Trust with a 16 or 17 year old. Over the four-year period (2014-2018) a total of 653 cases were recorded, of which 495 recorded the position concerned.

Contact information: Email bruce.warwick@parliament.uk or call 07948 979 713