Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry: Recommendations - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:39 pm on 8 January 2025.

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Photo of Lord Hanson of Flint Lord Hanson of Flint The Minister of State, Home Department 3:39, 8 January 2025

I am grateful to the right reverend Prelate for his question. Let me put it this way: one thing that my Right Honourable Friend the Home Secretary has committed to this week is to make sure that we have a mandatory reporting requirement for individuals who have child abuse reported to them, and indeed for perpetrators who report themselves to an authority. That will then have to be mandatorily reported to the police and to law enforcement authorities. Self-evidently, if there is a mandatory reporting of that incident, it will be a major failure of any police force not to investigate, and potentially take further action, reporting to the CPS, if they substantiate the allegations that have been reported mandatorily by an individual. The history of this is complex, but I hope that the recommendations made can be implemented. That is one of the early things that we want to do, which is why we are getting on with it, rather than having further inquiries that will delay matters to safeguard children.

right honourable friend

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