Helen Salisbury: Mandatory reporting of sexual activity will be counterproductive
The new Crime and Policing Bill currently making its way through parliament includes a legal requirement for anyone in a regulated activity to report to police or social services if they become aware of any sexual activity between an adult and a child.1 This duty applies to all doctors. The aim is to reduce child sexual abuse, and the sanction for failing to report will be referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, which could prevent you from working with young people in the future, and referral to the General Medical Council. No one will disagree with the aim of this legislation, but many doctors are worried about the details and fear that it may be counterproductive. As the law stands, if a 15 year old comes …
