FR-13 Response Accepted in Part AI-assessed

Mandatory Reporting

Recommendation

The Inquiry recommends that the UK government and Welsh Government introduce legislation which places certain individuals - 'mandated reporters' - under a statutory duty to report child sexual abuse where they: receive a disclosure of child sexual abuse from a child or perpetrator; or witness a child being sexually abused; or observe recognised indicators of child sexual abuse. The following persons should be designated 'mandated reporters': any person working in regulated activity in relation to children (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended); any person working in a position of trust (as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as amended); and police officers. For the purposes of mandatory reporting, 'child sexual abuse' should be interpreted as any act that would be an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where the alleged victim is a child under the age of 18. Where the child is aged between 13 and under 16 years old, a report need not be made where the mandated reporter reasonably believes that: the relationship between the parties is consensual and not intimidatory, exploitative or coercive; and the child has not been harmed and is not at risk of being harmed; and there is no material difference in capacity or maturity between the parties engaged in the sexual activity concerned, and there is a difference in age of no more than three years. These exceptions should not, however, apply where the alleged perpetrator is in a position of trust within the meaning of the 2003 Act. Where the child is under the age of 13, a report must always be made. Reports should be made to either local authority children's social care or the police as soon as is practicable. It should be a criminal offence for mandated reporters to fail to report child sexual abuse where they: are in receipt of a disclosure of child sexual abuse from a child or perpetrator; or witness a child being sexually abused.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to Gov.uk progress update (8 April 2025), the government introduced clauses through the Crime and Policing Bill in February 2025 to establish a mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse, applicable to disclosures by children and perpetrators, and personally witnessed incidents. This duty is intended for individuals in regulated activity with children. However, according to Professor Alexis Jay's statement to the Home Affairs Select Committee (21 January 2025), none of IICSA's final recommendations had been implemented as of December 2024.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
K.5
Response
Accepted in Part
Accepted in Part UK Government
22 May 2023

We accept the need for mandatory reporting; the Government has agreed to implement a mandatory reporting regime for child sexual abuse which will be informed by a full public consultation, beginning with the publication of a Call for Evidence alongside this response.

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Progress Timeline
Parliamentary Answer
31 Jan 2026

Mandatory reporting duty provisions in Crime and Policing Bill progressing through Lords Committee stage (January 2026). Bill creates criminal offence for obstructing reports (up to 7 years imprisonment). Full implementation programme during 2026, with duty commencement approximately 12 months post-Royal Assent.

Official Report
08 Apr 2025

Introducing statutory mandatory reporting duty through Crime and Policing Bill currently before Parliament; creating criminal offense for obstruction. Full implementation program in 2026, with duty commencement approximately 12 months post-Royal Assent.

Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

No Meaningful Progress
21 Jan 2025
Home Affairs Select Committee Select Committee

Professor Alexis Jay told Home Affairs Committee that £187m was spent on IICSA and "to date none of its final recommendations had been implemented." Called for "full implementation" saying "get it done."

View detailed findings

As of December 2024, none of the 20 final report recommendations had been implemented. The previous government's response was described by Prof Jay as "very weak and, at times, apparently disingenuous."

Home Affairs Committee hearing, 21 January 2025 View Source
Source
Inquiry IICSA
Report The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse 20 Oct 2022
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Recommendation age 3.4 yrs
Last formal update 31 Jan 2026