Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse is about to become law - Thirtyone:eight help Christian parents understand what it means for them
Trigger Warning: This article contains information about child sexual abuse
You might have heard the phrase “mandatory reporting” popping up in the news or in Parliament recently, especially in relation to protecting children from abuse. But what does it actually mean? Who does it apply to? And more importantly, what do we as Christian parents need to know when it comes to the safety of our children and our wider church family?
What is mandatory reporting?
In simple terms, mandatory reporting means that people in ‘regulated activity’—like teachers, doctors, social workers and weekly youth leaders—could have a legal duty to tell the authorities if they know, suspect, or are told that a child is being sexually abused.
Currently, for example, if your child’s group leader suspected or knew your child was being abused but chose not to report it, or to cover it up, they wouldn’t face any repercussions. Adding mandatory reporting to the law would change that.
This is part of a bigger piece of work by the UK government to tackle child abuse after years of heartbreaking stories about abuse being missed or covered up. The idea is that if people are legally required to report concerns, fewer children will slip through the cracks.
Why it matters
As Christian parents, we’re called to love and protect the vulnerable—especially children. Jesus had strong words for those who cause harm to little ones, and we’re reminded over and over in Scripture to be vigilant, compassionate, and courageous.
Mandatory reporting would mean that children and young people are better protected from harm and abuse.
Why is everyone talking about it now?
The reason mandatory reporting is in the news is that the government has released a proposal for tackling child sexual abuse following public pressure to act on grooming gangs.
The proposal includes how it intends to implement the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) a seven-year investigation into how abuse was handled in schools, churches, care homes, and other settings completed in 2022. The findings said that signs of child abuse were too often missed—or worse, ignored and a number of recommendations were made to prevent the same things from happening in the future. One of those recommendations was mandatory reporting.
How would mandatory reporting work?
The current proposal would mean that anyone working in what’s called a “regulated activity” (think: schools, youth clubs, healthcare, churches with kids’ ministries) would be legally required to report known or suspected child sexual abuse.
Currently, the proposals suggest:
- No criminal penalties for not reporting, but you could be barred from working with children again if you fail to act.
- A new criminal offence for stopping someone from reporting (e.g. pressuring them to stay silent).
Thirtyone:eight believe the current proposals do not go far enough. We are calling for the Crime and Policing Bill to include ‘concerns or suspicions’ as a trigger for those in regulated activity to report child sexual abuse, and encourage the government to implement criminal sanctions for failing to report.
What does this mean for us as Christian parents?
Most of us aren’t teachers or police officers, but as parents, we want our children to be safe in the places they spend their time. If implemented properly, this change in law will be a significant step towards ensuring safer places, and by staying informed of the changes, parents can make sure teachers, leaders, or volunteers are following best practice.
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Additionally, if you are in a church community volunteering in kids’ or youth ministry mandatory reporting may affect you depending on how often you volunteer.
The Church of England has already welcomed mandatory reporting, and while it may take some figuring out, as a church family, we should be seeking to build a culture where children are safe, leaders are accountable, and everyone understands how to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
Final thoughts
This is a big moment for child protection in the UK. Thirtyone:eight will continue to encourage the government to implement the law to its fullest degree, with criminal sanctions for those who fail to report. Whether you’re parenting, teaching, volunteering, or just doing life in a community with kids, we encourage you to take time to understand what’s changing—and be ready to speak up for those who can’t always speak for themselves.
