Addressing parental consent manipulation
1. Lancashire County Council should consider how to address repeated lack of consent or manipulation of consent within existing legislation.
2. Phase 2 should consider whether legal reforms are needed to permit agencies, when considering children and young people who pose a risk of violence to others, to override parental consent to share information, access a child or young person, or obtain information about their online activity.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe government agrees with all 67 recommendations made by the Chair. The government recognises these five fundamental failings. These failings are unacceptable. The Chair has made 10 recommendations for issues to be considered further by the Inquiry in Phase 2. This response refers to these recommendations where they are relevant to or driving current work. (Government Response to Phase 1 of the Southport Inquiry, CP 1623, 2 July 2026.)
Progress Timeline
Government response published 2 July 2026 (CP 1623). The government agreed with this recommendation, which the Chair referred for further consideration in Phase 2 of the Inquiry.