Mandatory Reporting
As one of our key manifesto asks, Thirtyone:eight are calling for the introduction of mandatory reporting in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“Effective and timely reporting is a vital part of a well functioning child protection system.”
- Baroness Grey-Thompson, House of Lords
The Opportunity
Children have the right to be protected from all forms of harm and abuse, including Child Sexual Abuse. The report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published in October 2022 included 20 recommendations for England and six for Wales, on a range of issues including Mandatory Reporting, redress for victims and survivors, a Cabinet Minister for Children, the introduction of new Child Protection Authorities for England and Wales with investigative powers, and significant changes to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The Challenge
In January 2025, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, committed to the implementation of all 20 recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IISCA). The Crime and Policing Bill was introduced into the House of Commons in February 2025 which focuses on the following recommendations from IICSA:
- Introducing a mandatory reporting duty
- Removal of the supervision exemption from the definition of regulated activity.
- Introduction of grooming as an aggravating factor in the sentencing of child sexual offenses
- The removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in respect of their abuse.
These are steps in the right direction for England, however further progress is required to ensure the full implementation of all 20 recommendations of IICSA.
Of the 20 recommendations in the IICSA report, six were directed at the Welsh Government. Four of the recommendations were accepted, with the remaining two accepted in principle. In most of these, the Welsh government is already making progress, however ongoing work is required to ensure momentum is maintained to bring about the full implementation of all the recommendations.
Our Recommendations
England:
- Make sustained progress towards implementing all 20 IICSA recommendations.
Wales:
- Make sustained progress towards implementing all 6 IICSA recommendations relevant to Wales.
Scotland:
- Not applicable as the IICSA recommendations are relevant to England and Wales only.
Northern Ireland:
- Not applicable as the IICSA recommendations are relevant to England and Wales only.
