Small Religious Organisations: Safeguarding

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 10:18 pm on 2 March 2026.

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Photo of Tessa Munt Tessa Munt Liberal Democrat, Wells and Mendip Hills 10:18, 2 March 2026

I think it takes an average of 26 years for children to disclose that they were victims of sexual abuse, so it is absolutely critical that the provision on the reasonable suspicion of abuse is included in the Bill, as well as the trigger for the duty to report. In small, high-demand religious organisations, cultural norms prevent open discussion of sexual harm and discourage mandatory reporting. That needs to be overturned.